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Illustrated History 



McDonald County, 



From the Earliest Settlement 
To the Present Time. 



EDITED AND COMPILED BY 



J, A. STURGES, 

PINEVILLE, MO. 



1897. 






PREFACE. 



In presenting this little volume to the public, 
I do so with the hope that it will impart much 
interesting and valuable information that could 
be collected and preserved alone by the histo- 
rian. The work was begun more than three 
years ago and the task, though arduous, has 
been a pleasant one. One who has not experi- 
enced it would not imagine the time and labor 
required, and the difficulties one encounters in 
preparing even a small book like this. 

The archives of the county have been search- 
ed and carefully compared, newspaper tiles for 
many years back have been gone over, and per- 
sons from all parts of the county have been in- 
terviewed and their statements compared. The 
traditionary matters are not Mie statements of 
one or two alone, but usually the corroboration 
of many. In fact no pains have been spared to 
make it reliable. Perhaps much of interest lias 
been omitted, but it would be impossible to pro- 
cure or publish all. 

^ There may be an occasional mistake, a few 
grammatical and typographical errors such as 
are liable to occur in all printed matter, but 
any intelligent reader will readily understand 



the meaning and overlook the defects. 

The price of the book ($2,00) may seem large 
for such a small book, but the sale is necessarily 
limited, and those now contracted will bring a 
very small return for the time, labor and cash 
expended. The somewhat irregular arrange- 
ment is caused by delay in procuring the mat- 
ter. This is especially true of the biographies. 

I wish to tender my thanks to the newspa- 
pers for their favorable notices, the many old 
citizens for the information they have freely 
given, and to those who have rendered substan- 
tial aid by subscribing for the book and taking 
biographical space. Trusting the work may 
meet with general approval, and that those who 
purchase or read it will ever remember me 
kindly, it is submitted for your perusal. 

J. A. Sturges. 
Pineville, Mo., Nov. 1, 1897. 




Compositor of This Book. 



SKETCH OF MY LIFE. 



I was born in McCoupin county, Illinois, August 
26, 1850. My father, now of Moline, Kansas, was 
a native of Connecticut, but when he was an in- 
fant his parents moved to Ohio. My mother, 
Nancy Ann Sturges, was a daughter of Richard 
and Celia Chapman, who emigrated from North 
Carolina to 111. in 1818. When I was about seven 
years old my father bought land in Montgomery 
county and improved a farm, and that was my 
home until 1875. We had about 400 acres in cul- 
tivation, and I know what farm life is. After se- 
curing a fair education, I read laAv with R. McWil- 
liams, at Litchfield, 111., and was admitted by the 
Supreme Court of that state in January, 1876. The 
following spring I located at Litchfield where I re- 
mained one year. I won my first case in the cir- 
cuit court, also in the supreme court, for which I 
received a fee of $100. 

In 1877 I went to Kansas, where I lived four 
years. While there I procured the incorporation 
and drafted the first ordinances of the City of Pitts- 
burg, and served as City Attorney one year. I 
came to McDonald county Dec. 10, 1881, and have 
tried to farm, taught school, practiced law and 
published a newspaper ever since. Was a Repub- 
lican until 1882, when I allied myself with the 
Democratic party, which I supported until 1894, 
except the county ticket in 1890. In 1894 I return- 
ed to the Republican party. Was presiding judge 
of this county from 1887—90. 

February 17, 1876, I was married to Miss Inez E. 
Cheney, of Litchfield, 111., who was born in Ver- 
mont, bat came with her parents, Zerra and Mary 
Jane Cheney, to Illinois when a small child. We 
have three boys — Harry, Isaac and Albert, dead, 
and two girls — Claudia and Josephine, and one 
boy — Daniel Richard (Dick), living. 



Altitude of county, 5 

Allotting Justices, 34 

Anderson township, 36 

Anderson, town of, 54 

Attorney, circuit, 129 

Attorney, county and prosecuting, 130 

Assessor, 137 
Administrator, public, 32 139 

Buffalo creek, 8 

Buffalo township, 36 

Buffalo City, 55 

Bannock, , 56 

Bank robbery, at Southwest City, 92 

Bank robbery, at Pineville, 200 

Bethpage, 97 

Brown, Emma murder case, 122 
Bird smd others whipped, 161 165 

Bear, killed in a cave, 198 

Bear, Claib Stafford's first, 199 

Center township, '. 38 

Cyclone township, 40 

Caverna, 56 

Coy, 57 

Crystal Springs, 58 

Cyclone, 58 

County Seat Contest, 69 



ii INDEX. 




Chenoweth murder, 


98 


Canada Bill lynched, 


111 


Clerk, circuit, 


127 


Clerk, county, 


128 


Coroner, 


140 


Collector & Sheriff, 


131 


Casbeer, George and wife suicide. 


154 


Court house burnt, 


74 183 


Christian, Lieutenant, 


183 


Donohue, (Goodman) 


58 


Devick, John killed. 


144 


Derbin, Frank drowned. 


146 


Drowned, three boys. 


149 


Dobbs, John killed. 


179 


Deer, adventure with. 


197 


Elk Horn creeks. 


10 


Elk horns found, 


10 


Elk Horn township. 


42 


Elk river, 


14 


Elk River township. 


43 


Early settlement, 


16 


Early settlers, customs and habits of. 


27 


Erie, 


60 


Erie township. 


41 


Elk Mills, 


59 


Enterprise, 


60 


Enterprise, battle at, 


177 


Fire at Pineville, 


75 


Fire at Southwest City, 


86 


Flood, July, 1883, 


189 



INDEX. iii 

Gates post office. (May) 61 

Grubb, Irwin hung, 119 

Honey creek, 15 

Hart post office, 62 

Hearrell murder, 104 

Harmon, Mark killed, 182 

Harmon, John killed, 143 

Harmon, escape of David, 172 

Hopkins family removed, 177 

Hamlin, William killed, 182 

Hinson, Bill, 183 

Hidden Treasures, 191 

Indian creek, 9 

Indian legend, 11 

Indian Springs, 63 

Judge, circuit, 128 

Judge, probate, 132 

Judge, county, 134 

Jail burnt, 163 

Kelso, Colonel, 183 

Kings creek, 12 

Little Missouri, 13 

Lanagan, 66 

Lane, Wick murdered 120 

LaMance, J. P., 184 

LaMance, M. N., ■ 186 

McDonald county, boundary and dis., 5 

McDonald county, origin of name, 6 

Mike creek, 13 

Mill creek, 14 



iv INDEX. 




McDonald county established, 


23 


McDonald county organized, 


20 


McMillin township. 


44 


Mountain township. 


46 


Mann, Garland killed, 


100 


Moore murder and trial. 


114 


Morgan, little Claude killed. 


124 


Meranda, James suicides. 


153 


Noel, 


68 


Noel, muder of Lula, 


106 


Nutting, John, 


174 


Nutting, M. L. wounded. 


179 


Nominees, list of. 


334 


Officers before the war. 


26 


Officers, first after the war, 


31 


Patterson creek, 


9 


Pineville township. 


48 


Pineville, 


57 


Pineville skirmish. 


185 


Pine war. 


158 


Prairie township. 


49 


Powell, 


76 


Proctor, Mrs. burnt, 


151 


Petty thieving. 


160 


Population of county. 


341 


Richwood township. 


51 


Rocky Comfort, 


77 


Rutledge, 


77 


Rail road. 


81 


Representative, 


126 



INDEX. 1 

Sugar creek, 13 

Saratoga Springs, 78 

Silver Springs, 79, 

Simcoe, 80 

Splitlog, 81 

Southwest City, 83 

Sheriff and Collector, 131 

Surveyor, 141 

School commissioner, 141 

Sterley, O. killed, 144 

Stafford, John killed, 147 

Sellers, death of Lee, 152 

Slickers, 156 

Smith, death of Major, 170 

Shields, Col., 184 

Schell's buried money, 193 

Smith, George murdered, 206 

Townships, 26 33 

Twin Springs, 96 

Treasurer, 138 

Testerman, Willie killed, 145 

Tillotson, Jack killed, 204 

Tiff City, 209 

Temperance Work, 210 

Voting places, 33 

Vote by townships, 313 

Vendetta, 186 

Wolf scalps, 34 

Wolf story, 195 

White Rock township, 52 



VI 



INDEX. 



White Rock Sulphur Springs, 

Wisdom murder case, 

Wilson, John killed, 

War Stories, 

Wimpey, Timothy killed, 

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX. 

Adams, A. A., 
Anderson, A. D., 
Anderson, Robert, 

Baker, Zach, 
Barlow, A. H., 
Best, S. D., 
Bosserman, H. B., 

Cowan, J. H., 
Chase, Dr., 
Carnell, T. J., 
Christensen, J. B., 
Carlyle, L. W., 
Coffelt, T. A., 
Clay, George, 

Davis, C. E., 
Doty, Dr., 
Doty, J. A., 
Dabbs, Hugh, 
Duval, C. E., 

Elliff, D. S. 
Etue, P. D., 
Elliff, J. L., 
Edelen, Dr., 



96 
102 
147 
167 
180 



225 
226 
227 

227 

228 
229 
253 

230 
249 
255 
261 
264 
271 
275 

244 
245 
312 
246 
307 

231 
256 
257 
290 



INDEX. vii 

Falkenbury, M, C, 297 

Freeze, F. A., 300 

Foster, J. A., 304 

Gilbraith, T. C, 232 

Horner, J. T., 232 

Horton, P. A., 233 

Harmon, Dan, 265 

Huckins, Dan, 276 

Jackson, H. S., 234 

Jackson, J. A., 263 

Kelley, J. W., • 295 

Lane, S. T., 235 

Lamson, J. C, 286 

LaMance, M. N., 287 

LaMance, Lora S., 288 

Marrs, M. L., 236' 

Meador, M. E., 236 

Madden, J. P., 237 

Montgomery, John L., 238 

McKinney, Dr., 277 

Noel, W. H., 238 

Noel, A. W., 247 

Nutting, J. W., ' 239 

Patterson, R. W., 240 

Prater, H. C, 241 

Pepper, H. C, 283 

Price, W. C, 291 

Preston, S. D. and wife, 309 



viii INDEX. 




Quails, J. H., 


241 1 


Seabourn, G. M. D., 


242 


Shambaugh, I. N., 


267 1 


Shields, J. W., 


269 


Smith, J. W., 


273 


Smith, W. E., 


281 


Sears, F. A. 


274 


Stewart, M. L., 


298 


Tabler, A., 


293 


Tandy, J. F., 


305 


Wilson, W. K., 


243 
259 


Wimpey, J. H., 


Wimpey, T. H., 


244 


Walters, A. C, 


299 


Vermillion, R. E. and wife, 


250 


Yocum, P. A. T., 


302 



HISTORY OF Mcdonald county. 



CHAPTER I. 

LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY. 

McDonald County is situated in the extreme 
southwest corner of the state, having the Indi- 
an Territory for its western boundary and Ar- 
kansas for its southern. Newton county lies 
north, and Barry, east. In addition to the mag- 
netic variation, the west line of the state bears 
west which makes the county three-fourths of a 
mile wider at the south side than at the north. 
The south line bears north of east, making the 
county narrower at the east side than at the 
west. The actual dimensions of the county 
within a few rods from north to south is, at the 
westend 181-2 miles; at.the east end 17 1-4 miles. 
From east to west, on the north line it is 30 8-4 
miles, and 30 miles on the south. It, therefore 
contains about 550 square miles. The general 
altitude above the sea level is about 1100 feet. 
The surveys of the county show that from the 
water level in the streams to the summit of the 



6 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

highest hills is 365 feet. This elevation is 
reached either by gradual ascent from the mouth 
to the source of the water courses, or by an ab- 
rupt rise, in places being almost perpendicular. 
It has been quite a difficult task to ascertain 
the origin of the name, but all the old settlers 
state that the county was named after an offi- 
cer in the Revolutionary War. Dr. Duval and 
W. C. Price think he was one of Marion's men. 
The surface of the county is quite diversified. 
In the northwest corner, or nearly so, a jDoint of 
Swors Prairie projects into this county, there be- 
ing perhaps 300 acres of prairie land this side of 
the Newton county line. There is, also, a small 
body of prairie land near the northeast corner of 
the county, called Mitchells prairie, from a fami- 
ly of that name who settled there in the early 
days. White Rock prairie is a small body of prai- 
rie land in White Rock township. It derives its 
name from the white, chalky appearance of the 
stone which is found there in large quantities. 
In the southwest part of the county, the Cow- 
skin prairie extends some five miles square, and 
contains some very fine farms. 

Between the various valleys and streams are 

uplands covered with all varieties of timber 

i grown in this part of the state. These uplands 

are, usually, comparatively level, and are called 

Flat W^oods . This name was applied by the 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 7 

southern people who settled here in the early 
days, and signifies "barrens". Until within the 
last few years they were supposed to be worthless 
but are now being rapidly put into cultivation, 
and have proved to be quite productive. Many 
of the best farms in the county are now on this 
"barren" land. Along the valleys pertaining 
to all the streams the bottom lands are generally 
fertile, and produce all kinds of crops in abun- 
dance. The soil in all parts of the county is 
much more productive than it appears to be to 
one who is not acquainted with it. Clover grows 
rankly on the hill sides and uplands that apjDear 
to be covered with nothing but gravel. Blue 
grass does quite well when it is once set, but it 
is difficult to get it started. Orchard and other 
grasses where tried, have generally proven a 
success, but up to the present writing the ex- 
periments have not been very extensive. Fruit 
trees grow rapidly and come early into bearing, 
while small fruits of almost every variety scarce- 
ly ever fail, and are of the finest quality and 
flavor. 

Between the valleys and water courses and the 
uplands, are usually ranges of hills. They are 
generally steep, high, and often rise in perpen- 
dicular cliffs. These abruj^t hills and hollows 
are called brakes, and are generally worthless 
except for the timber and for range, or pastures. 



I 



8 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

These brakes are not confined to any locality, 
but are contiguous to all the streams. The 
largest bluffs are found along the river where 
in places they rise perpendicularly several 
hundred feet, and form some of the grandest 
scenery in the Great Southwest. Along the 
southern border of the county the surface is 
generally broken, and in the southeast part the 
hills rise almost to the magnitude of mountains. 
The valleys and coves in this broken part of the 
county are, however, exceptionally rich, and 
contain many fine farms and prosperous in- 
habitants. 

WATER COURSES. 

Beginning in the northwest part of the county, 
the first stream of note is Buffalo creek, which 
enters the county on the north line about five 
and one-half miles from the northwest corner 
and bears south and west, passing into the Indi- 
an Territory near Tiff City. It is a beautiful 
stream of water fed by springs, and along its 
bottoms are some of the richest farms in the 
county. It was named many years before a 
white man ever thought of settling on its banks. 
I have not been able to learn his name nor the 
date in which he made his journey, but have 
been reliably informed that the name Buffalo, 
was given this creek by the first Catholic Mis- 
sionarythat ever visited the Indians of this part 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 9 

of America. During his journey considerable 
heavy rain fell and the creek, as well as the river 
rose until it was past fording, and the party was 
obliged to go into camp between the two streams 
until the water ran down. While thus delayed 
a buffalo cow was killed by one of the party and 
the robe, or skin, was preserved. From this 
event the missionary gave the name - Buffalo to 
the creek and Cow Skin to the river. A very 
pretty origin for the names of two of the most 
noted streams in our county. 

Next south of this is Patterson creek, named 
from John Patterson, an old bachelor who 
settled on the creek about the year 1833. The 
creek rises about two miles west of the town of 
Anderson and runs principally west, passing 
into the Territory about a mile south of Tiff City. 
South Indian creek takes its source at a large 
spring in the town of Rocky Comfort and runs 
south of west for some ten or twelve miles where 
it connects with the main creek which has its 
source in Newton county, and enters McDonald 
county about twelve miles from thejnortheast 
corner. The main creek flows south and west 
from where it enters this county, and empties 
into Elk river just above the old town site of 
Rutledge. This is one of the most beautiful of 
streams; throughout its entire length the rich 
bottom lands, fine farms, herds of all kinds of 



10 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

Stock and comfortable, home-like houses and 
barns, impress one with the belief that he is in 
one of the favored spots of the earth. Many years 
ag-o, in the earliest settlement of this part of 
Missouri there was an Indian camp on this creek 
just about where it now crosses the north line 
of this county. The name was given it from 
this Indian camjD. 

East of this, and still in the northern part of 
the county are the North and South Elk Horn. 
These two streams each rise from springs and 
are fed by the same means. The Valleys are 
narrow but very productive, and many nice 
farms are found along these two streams. 

Many of the older inhabitants do not remem- 
ber the origin of the name, but I have been able 
to glean the information that it was formerly 
the grazing and stamping ground for heards of 
elk, and the name was given on account of find- 
ing horns of these animals along the two streams. 
Mr. John Roseberry, now deceased, more than 
sixty years ago found an immense set of elk 
horns in that vicinity. He was a large, tall 
man, but the horns were so large that when the 
tips were placed on the ground he could stand 
straight under the crown. This may seem some- 
what incredible, but it is vouched for by so 
many reputable citizens that it is given as an 
absolute fact. 



History of mcdonai^d county. li 

In connection with this part of the county we 
have gleaned the following little romance which 
we give as a beautiful illustration of the dusky 
heroes and lovers of long ago. Perhaps it will 
bo of sufficient interest to pardon the digression. 

THE STORY 

Long before there were any white settlers in 
any of the south western counties of Missouri a 
band of Indians used to make their annual hunt- 
ing expeditions through this country. One of 
their regular camps was on Indian creek near 
the north line of this county. From this camp 
they would scour the country for miles around 
in search of game. Among this tribe was a young 
warrior who had long, in vain, sought to gain 
the love of a dusky maid who proved adverse to 
all his entreaties. One evening after his prof- 
fered love had again been rejected, in his lonli- 
ness and despair, he went out in the stillness of 
the night and, gazing on the stars that twinkled 
so brightly, as if in mockery of his anguish, he 
breathed a prayer to the Great Spirit to make 
him worthy of the maiden and to enable him to 
gain her love. At length, worn out by his mel- 
ancholy vigils, he wrapped himself in his robes 
anl laid down to pursue in his troubled dreams 
the thoughts that would not leave his mind eith- 
er awake or asleep. 

The next morning he started out on his usual 



12 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

hunting trip, and during the day visited the lo- 
cality where a herd of elk were known to use. 
Being unsuccessful in his search for game, he 
wandered around until late in the afternoon, tired 
and thirsty, he concluded to go to the big spring 
at the head of North Elk Horn, and spend the 
night there alone. As he came near the place 
he heard the scream of a woman and the. angry 
snort of an elk. Rushing down the hill at light- 
ning speed, he saw a large male elk just as it 
struck the maid, and heard a stilled groan as she 
rolled on the ground and was trampled beneath 
the feet of the enraged animal. One twang of his 
bow sent an arrow on its death-dealing mission; 
an instant his hunting knife gleamed in the sun, 
then sank deep in the side of the animal, which 
rolled -over and died. The warrior'gathered the 
insensible form of the girl in his arms, and as 
he looked in her face beheld the object of his 
affections. He carried her to the spring, bathed 
her in the cool water and in a few moments she 
revived. Her injuries were not serious, and for 
many long and happy years that elk's horns 
stood over the door of their wigwam, the grandest 
of all his trophies. Ever after that sirring was 
called the Elk's Horn, and the name was event- 
ually extended to the two beautiful streams. 

Kings creek rises south of the center of Rich- 
wood township and runs principally south and 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 13 

empties into Big Sugar creek in center town- 
ship 2 miles below Powell. It was named from 
John B. King the first settler. He was a law- 
yer, saw mill man and figured quite prominently 
in the Pine War which occurred in the early set- 
tlement of the county. 

Mike creek rises in Richwood township near 
the Barry county line, and runs south and west, 
emptying into Big Sugar creek about one mile 
above the mouth of Kings creek. The name was 
given from the first settler on that stream, Phil- 
ip Michael, who located on the farm now owned 
by Henry Green Fox, in the year 1857. 

Big Sugar creek has its source in Benton Co., 
Ark., and, enters this county in Mountain town- 
ship near the southeast corner, runs north and 
principally west to the town of Pineville 
where it unites with Little Sugar and forms Elk, 
or Cowskin river. Little Sugar rises in Benton 
county, Ark., enters this county at Caverna in 
White Rock township, and runs west and north 
until it makes the connection above mentioned. 

The two streams derive their names from the 
quantities of sugar maj)les that f ormely grew in 
great numbers along their bottoms. There us- 
ed to be a number of sugar tree orchards on these 
two creeks, and the early settlers were abundant- 
ly supplied with maple syrup and sugar. 

Little Missouri is the name of a stream that 



14 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

has its source in White Eock township, runs 
nearly west and empties into Little Sugar creek. 
Mill creek lies in the southern part of Pine- 
ville township and connects with the river just 
above the town of Noel. It derives its name 
from a saw mill erected near its mouth by Moses 
Martin about 1835. It was operated by horse 
power, and afterward a pair of corn burrs were 
added. South and southwest of this is Butler 
creek which empties into the river just below 
the town of Noel. The upper part of this stream 
is called Deer creek; so called from the numer- 
ous herds of deer found there in early days. 
Butler creek was named from Chas. Butler who 
settled at the place now owned by Chas. Heath 
about the year 1840. 

Elk River, also called Cowskin, is formed, as 
stated, by the junction of the tv/o Sugar creeks 
at the town of Pineville, and flows principally 
west, meandering north and south at various 
parts. From Rutledge it flows nearly south 
about three miles, then bears north until it 
crosses the state line and enters the Territory 
about two miles north of the parallel on which it 
starts; thence westwardly until it empties into 
Grand river in the Indian Territory. This stream 
vv^as declared navigable by act of Congress many 
years ago, but it has never been practical for 
that purpose, there being too many narrow and 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 15 

shallow places. The valley or bottom is from 
one-half to two miles wide and the soil is very 
rich. Many large and productive farms are 
along its banks and the owners are counted way 
up in the thousands in wealth. 

Honey creek rises in Arkansas, runs across 
the corner of the county, passing through 
Southwest City and into the Territory. 

There are various other small streams and 
valleys along which are found many productive 
farms, but the above are the princixDal water 
courses worthy of note. 

These streams are all fed by springs, and the 
water is usually cold. One peculiarity of the 
smaller watercoursesisthat they become "lost" 
or run under ground much of the way. At one 
point the water will be running like a mill race, 
perhaps fifty yards below the bed will be per- 
fectly dry, then again the water comes to the 
surface going with a rush until it again rises 
and so on until it reaches a larger body. 



16 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



CHAPTER II. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

The early settlers of McDonald county, like 
those of all other localities, located along the 
creeks and river bottoms. Here were abundant 
springs of pure, cold water, the streams were 
alive with fish and an abundance of game ranged 
near these water courses. The soil was ex- 
tremely fertile, producing almost miraculous 
crops of all grains and vegetables, while the 
uplands called "barrens" or "flat woods", were 
considered almost worthless for agricultural 
purposes. 

Filled with a restless desire for pioneer life, 
the inhabitants of other states beg an to settle in 
these lonely valleys soon after the state was ad- 
mitted into the Union. Here, in the solitude of 
the forests, with only the breezes whistling in 
the trees, the rippling of the water or the cries 
of wild animals and birds to wake the stillness, 
these men made their homes. Here many, 
many miles from any town or post office they 
reared their families, and here some of them 
have long ago found their narrow homes. The 
first settler within the present boundary of this 
county of which we have been able to learn was 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 17 

Valentine, commonly called Telty, Miller, and 
wife Katy (Workman) and only son, Levi, who 
settled in Elk river bottom on what is now 
Known as the Peck farm, in Elk River township, 
in 1827. He brought a copper still with him 
from North Carolina and for a while manfactured 
whisky. He also ran a set of burrs 'for grind- 
ing corn. His machinery was operated by water 
power. In a few years his temporary cabin 
was replaced by a more comfortable log house 
which, though sadly dilapidated, is still stand- 
ing. Some fifteen years afterward they buried 
their only son on the bank of the river, and in a 
few days dei)arted for California where the old 
people died. 

About 1830 a family by the name of Friend is 
said to have settled on what is now the Langly 
farm on Elk river. 

Abram, Elisha and Jacob Testerman, came 
in 1833, and settled on Elk River. Pour years 
later (1837) Abram Testerman and Margery 
Buzzard were married and settled on Indian 
creek about one fourth of a mile belov,^ v^^here the 
town of Lanagan is now located. This is said 
to be the first marriage in this county. 

During the early thirties R. Lauderdale, P. 
Williams, Blevins, Mathevrs and a few^ other 
families, in all about forty persons, settled in 
this county. Lauderdale afterwards settled on 



18 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

Indian creek on the place now occupied by Bob 
Lauderdale. Some of the others settled on 
Indian creek and the rest in the vicinity of the 
present site of Pineville. 

Among the other early settlers in this part of 
the county were Hugh L. Testerman, who came 
here in^September, 1839 and is still living a 
quarter of a mile east of Pineville on the farm 
he has owned for more than half a century. A 
family by the name of Nicely settled on the 
river below Pineville about 1840, two Noel fam- 
ilies and George Hosier, near the same time. 
About this time it appears that Augustus Friend 
owned the Marshall farm, which he sold to Jacob 
Wallace in 1842. Mrs. Wallace afterward sold 
to Marshall. 

Hamilton Moffett and family, also his two 
married sons, Elam and William, with their 
f amilies^settled on Indian Creek and near the 
mouth, of 'Elk'-^ Horn in 1840. Elam MofCett, 
father of J. H. Moffett who now resides in Pine- 
ville, settled the place known as the old Moffett 
farm at the mouth of South Elk Horn. It is now 
owned, by Elihu Hendry. Prior to their advent 
into this. county, Jonathan Blair a Presbyterian 
minister had^settled a short distance below the 
Elam Moffett place, and also owned the present 
site of McNatt's mills. He operated a small mill 
at that point in the latter part of the 30 s and 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 19 

early 40 's. John and Jim Mayfield and Bill 
Cleveland lived on Indian creek near Erie prior 
to 1839. Sometime in the 30 's John Hearrell 
lived on Big Sugar creek six miles northeast of 
Pineville. Dr. Clark Wallace is also among the 
settlers jDrior to 1840, and JoelMeador, who still 
lives on Indian creek. 

Among the others who located in this county 

prior to 1840 are found the names of James W. 

Tatum, Eligah Witten, and Pleasant Smith. Mr. 

Tatum still lives on Beaver valley one half mile 

'above the town of Anderson. 

The above comprises the principal part of 
those who came to this county prior to 1840-2, 
and settled within the present limits of Anderson 
Erie, Elk River and Pineville townships. I have 
had to rely wholly on the memory of the older 
settlers for this information, which is substan- 
tially correct, although the names of a few may 
have been overlooked or forgotten. 

The early settlements in the other ^Darts of the 
county will be given by the municii^al townships. 



20 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



CHAPTER III. 

COUNTY ORGANIZATION. 

Prior to 1833 Crawford county embraced all 
of Southwest Missouri. In that year Green 
county was organized and for two years Spring- 
field was the county seat of the present area of 
McDonald county. 

In 1835 Barry county was establishedwhich in- 
cluded all of the territory w^hich is now Barry, 
McDonald, Nevv^ton, Jasper, Lawrence, Barton, 
Dade, and part of Cedar counties. After consid- 
erable strife over the location of the county seat, 
the town of Mount Pleasant was established and 
the county seat located there. Itvv^as about one 
and one-half miles west of the present site of 
Pierce City. In connection with this place we 
give the following interesting reminiscence 
which Avas published iii the Newton County News 
in July 1896: 

"Away back in the thirties Newton, as well as 
a number of other counties, was a part of Barry 
county and the county seat of Barry was Mt. 
Pleasant and v/as located about one and cne-hpjf 
miles west of Pierce City. The court house was 
built of logs. A line sx^ring was one of the at- 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 21 

tractions of this county seat. Barry county then 
embraced the large territory of what is now Barry 
Lawrence, Newton and McDonald counties, and a 
partor allot Jasper county. Capt. Ritchey, of 
Ritchey was born in that county seat and his fath- 
er, the late Judge Ritchey, was elected constable 
the same day on the Democratic ticket. Newton 
county was cut off from Barry in 1837 and since 
that time McDonald county has been formed from 
part of Newton. The farm on which Mt. Pleasant 
was located was settled by an old gentleman 
known as Uncle Sampson Lanna. After Barry 
county had been divided up into other counties 
Mt. Pleasant was no more a county seat, and a 
man by the name of Wilds purchased the farm 
in 1870 and intended to build a castle above the 
spring, but through some misfortune he commit- 
ted suicide and the castle was never built. Noth- 
ing remains now of the once county seat except 
the spring, which continues to furnish its pure 
beverage as when in days of yore the county 
officers quenched their thirst at its fountain. 
The train passes just by the old county seat spot 
now, but nothing can be seen but a big field of 
waving corn and shocks of wheat. ' ' 

The first session of the county court was held 
at Mount pleasant, February 16, 1835, and Barry 
county was divided into townships. Nearly all 
of the present limits of this county, also the 



22 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

southwest part of Newton county was designated 
as Elk River township. It was bounded as 
follows: Commencing at the southwest corner 
of the State thence north on the line between 
Missouri and the Indian Territory to the divide 
between Lost creek and Elk River, thence east 
on said divide to the line between Ranges 30 and 
31, thence south to the State line, thence west on 
Arkansas line to the corner stone between Mis- 
souri and Arkansas. The remainder of this 
county, a stri]3 eight and one-half miles wide off 
the east end, was included in Indian creek town- 
ship, which also, embraced a considerable part 
of the present limits of Barry county. Thus we 
see that Elk River township has the distinction, 
by several years, of being the oldest township 
im the county. This section of country, however 
remained but a short time subject to the jurisdic- 
tion of Barry county. By an act of the State 
Legislature, December 31, 1838, Newton county 
was established, and McDonald became a part of 
that county. The boundary of Newton county 
extended two and one-half miles further east 
than our jDresent line between this county and 
Barry, that is to the southwest corner of section 
26. T.21. R. 29 thence north, instealof the center 
of section 33 as it now is. The north line was fixed 
on the section lines running due west to the 
Nation line from the intersection of the four corn- 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 23 

ers of sections 13, 14, 23, 24 T. 28, R. 29, making: 
tlie new county about 46 miles from north to 
south and about 33 miles from east to west. 

Pursuant to the report of the commissioners 
andithe order of the county court, the town of 
Neosho was laid out in November, 1839 and the 
county seat established at that place. For the 
next decade this was a part of Newton county. 

An act was passed March 3, 1849 providing 
for the establishment of McDonald county, and 
the organization was completed under that act, 
but was attached to Newton county for the 
purpose of electing a rejiresentative until 1857. 

Considerable trouble was experienced in 
establishing the county seat, a more extended 
account of which will be given in the history of 
the towns. The commissioners to select a county 
seat were James Mayfield, Oliver Hickox and 
Joseph Pearson, of Newton county. They met 
at the house of J. C. McKay, which stood near 
the confluence of the two Sugar creeks, and his 
residence v/as designated as temporary court 
house. An election was called which resulted 
in the selection of Rutledge as the county seat 
w^here it remained until premanently located at 
Piiieville in 1857. During this contention be- 
tween the two rival towns two sets cf off cers 
were claiming title and rival courts were car- 
lied on, one at Pineville, the other at Rutledge. 



24 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

The first election resulted in the selection of 
Murphy Brown of Rocky Comfort, John Oliver 
and Abram Testerman as county judges, Burton 
McGhee, clerk, A. A. Hensley, sheriff and Til- 
lotson Pearson treasurer. These officers organ- 
ized court at Rutledge in 1849, but Brown re- 
fused to take part in the transactions being of 
the opinion that the court should be held at 
Pineville. J. K. Mosier, William Duval, Jr., 
and Benjamin Cooper organized court at Pine- 
ville, which was then called Maryville. John 
B. King served as clerk, A. D. Flinn, sheriff 
and collector, and J. J. Hackney, treasurer. 
Court was held at J. C. McKay's residence, 
above mentioned. Little but tro uble and conf us - 
ion resulted from these rival courts and officers 
and many of the people refused to pay taxes until 
the dispute was finally settled a few years later. 
The transactions of the Pineville court were 
generally ignored, but according to the state- 
ment of some of the old residents, a few of the 
warrants were paid several years later. The 
circuit courts were held regularly at Rutledge. 
The first set of county judges were succeeded 
by A. Z. Holcomb and William Moffett, Tester- 
man succeeding himself. Moffett served two 
terms. Joshua Wimpey, also, served as judge 
about this time, but I have not been able to get 
the names of any others. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 25 

McDonald county was attached to Newton 
county for legislative purposes until 1856. In 
that year an election was held and Thomas Jones 
was elected as the first member of the House of 
Representatives from McDonald county. Bur- 
ton McGhee was his opponent in the race. 
Jones died at Jefferson City the next year and 
Smith Elkins was elected to fill the vacancy. 

In 1858 Smith Elkins was a candidate for 
reelection, his competitors for legislative honors 
being Dr. Wm. C. Duval,- Claudius B. Walker 
and Moses Pollard. The first three were Dem- 
ocrats and Pollard a Know Nothing. Dr. Du- 
val was elected by forty-five plurality. In 1860 
he was again elected by a majority of 145, his 
opponent being James A. Scott. The doctor 
threw all of his influence while in the legislature 
against secession until May 10, 1861, when he 
followed the majority of his party in casting their 
lot with the Southern Confederacy. He attend- 
ed the legislature in their assembly at Neosho 
and took part in the proceedings, but was never 
connected with the Southern army except as a 
surgeon. 

Burton McGhee served as clerk until 1854 
when he was succeeded by A. A. Hensley, who 
was reelected in 1858 and held the office until 
the county government was suspended by the 
Civil War. Hensley was sheriff and collector 



26 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY, 

between 1849 and 1854. W. C. Price served one 
or two terms, about this time, and Demps Lau- 
derdale occupied the office when the war broke 
out. He became a Captain in the Confederate 
army -and died during the war of consumption. 
Joseph Hackney, Sr. , was treasurer at Pineville, 
and Tillotson Pearson, at Rutledge. J. P. La- 
Mance held the office one or two terms before 
the war. 

From the entries made immediately after the 
war, and from the statements of the older in- 
habitants, it appears that the county was divid- 
ed into seven municipal townships, as follows: 
Buffalo, Cooper, Elk River, Pine vile. Rich wood, 
Rutledge, White Rock. It is not possible to 
get the metes and bounds of the old divisions, 
but from the best information Buffalo was loca- 
ted somewhat as at present occupying the north- 
west corner of the county. Cooper embraced the 
south^j^est corner. Elk River and Rutledge 
covered substantialy the present limits of Elk 
River, Mc Millin and Prairie; Pineville, the cent- 
ral part, Richwood the northwest, and White 
Rock was practically as at present. 

This closes the history of our county up to 
the beginning of the Civil War, and contains as 
complete a list of the county officers and the 
leading events as it is possible to obtain. In 1 863 
the court house was burnt and nearly all the rec- 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 27 

ords destroyed, so that the chief source of infor- 
mation is that derived from the old settlers who 
located here years before the war, and on whose 
memory those old days and scenes of long ago 
are indelibly impressed. In a few years more 
those old residents will have passed away and 
their descendants will turn with pride to the 
works of history that have collated and preserv- 
ed for all future time these interesting reminis- 
cences of men and times long past. 

The people who had located here were gen- 
erally from the south, more being from Tennes- 
see than any other one state, and had brought 
with them the manners and customs peculiar to 
those localities. They lived in primitive style, 
compared to the present, and were nearly self- 
sustaining. A cook stove was a rare exception, 
nearly every one cooking by the fire place and 
oven. This, by the way, was not so inconveni- 
ent as might be imagined. Many a delicious 
"pone", rare venison saddle and luscious gob- 
bler has been cooked in this way, and the smell 
that ascended to heaven was enough to tempt 
the appetites of the gods. 

A sewing machine had never been heard of, 
while the clank of the loom and humming of the 
wheel furnished music almost as sweet, and 
more homelike, than our present organs and pi- 
anos. The oldfashioned linchpin wagons, with 



28 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

the box shaped like a canoe, many with wooden 
spindles, could be heard for miles as they groan- 
ed and screaked over the rocky roads. They 
raised their own cotton and wool, spun and wove 
it into cloth and made their own garments. The 
latter was the women's work. Of course every 
family cultivated enough tobacco for home con- 
sumption. Wheat and corn were produced and, 
as we have seen, there were a number of mills 
to do the grinding. Distilleries were quite nu- 
merous and manufactured the pure and unadul- 
terated corn juice at twenty -five cents a gallon. 
The good people, both saints and sinners, could 
take their corn to the still and lay in a good sup- 
ply of the great household panacea without a 
cent of cash. One didn't have to get ' 'sick" and 
tell a lie and sign his name to it, then get a doc- 
tor to tell one and sign his name to it in order 
to get a drink of a decoction miscalled whisky. 
No, he just followed the injunction of St. Paul, 
and took a little for his stomach's sake, and his 
oft infirmities, and of a quality that would have 
met the ajDproval of that learned apostle. In 
this new country subject to chills and malaria, 
and the scarcity of doctors and drugs, no doubt 
this pure liquor drove disease and death from 
many a home. 

Hogs and cattle could be raised with very lit- 
tle feed, the former being frequently butchered 



m 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY, 2 9 

directly from the mast, while deer, turkey and 
other game were found in abundance. As to 
shoes, every neighborhood had a tannery and 
every man was a shoemaker. One man told me 
that his father said his store bill before the war 
did not average more than five dollars a year. 
His family was quite large, and they lived com- 
fortably. Instead of doing without, they simply 
produced what was required. It is by no means 
intended to convey the idea that all the people 
were poor or lived so plainly. Many families 
were quite aristocratic, had well furnished 
houses, and gold watches and jewelry were 
worn quite extensively. Several parties owned 
slaves and carried on quite extensive plantations. 
Almost any McDonald county farmer, along in 
the fifties could raise a hundred dollars any day, 
and real estate mortgages were unknown. Peo- 
ple were honest in their dealings and paid their 
debts, and the latch string to every cabin hung 
on the outside. People were hospitable, ex- 
tremely so. Partly because it was born and 
bred in them, partly because, being isolated, 
and the settlements scarce and far between, it 
was regarded as a treat to have a neighbor or 
stranger stop to dinner or over night. The 
familiar "Halloa, stranger, git down an' hitch 
yer hoss, and come in "nstay all night. The ole 
Y/oman '1 have supper drecly. Boys, take the 



30 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

critter and feed it, ' ' has greeted the ears of 
many a weary traveler, and he would rest as se- 
cure as tho' guarded by a regiment of soldiers. 
Those are days to be remembered with pleasure; 
A bright period in the history of our county. 

But the question is asked, how did they make 
any money? As before stated, there were but 
few families in the county, and their farms 
were very productive. The range was exceed- 
ingly fine, and all kinds of stock could be raised 
with little or no outlay. A farmer could gather 
up his hogs and cattle in the spring after the 
grass was good, and drive them to St. Louis. 
There was range all the way and it mattered 
little that it took a long time to make the jour- 
ney. What his produce brought was clear prof- 
it. He frequently returned with several hun- 
dred dollars. Horses were raised and taken 
directly to the southern market where they 
would bring from $75 to $100. Thus an indus- 
trious man could soon acquire quite a snug sum 
of money. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 31 



CHAPTER IV. 

ORGANIZATION AFTER THE WAR. 

From 1861 to 1865 no elections were held in 
McDonald county. In 1864 the vote for this 
county was cast at Newtonia. Burton McGhee 
was elected member of the legislature and 26 
votes were cast for Fletcher for governor. Soon 
after the war the county government was again 
resumed, the officers being appointed by the 
governor. Benjamin F. Hopkins, Enoch G. 
Williams and Isaac A. Harmon were appointed 
judges, John V. Hargrove, sheriff; J. P. La- 
Mance, treasurer. The first meeting of this court 
was November 6, 1866. On the next day, No- 
vember 7, Henry H. Fox was appointed asses- 
sor of the county, and Hugh L. Testerman, cor- 
oner. On Nov. 8, Daniel Harmon was appoint- 
ed public administrator; A. W. Chenoweth, 
county treasurer; Abner M. Tatum school com- 
missioner; John M. Boyd, road commissioner. 
At this term of court, the followingn Justices 
of the peace were appointed: E. G. Williams, 
Pineville township; D. C. Hopkins, Elk River 
township; T. R. Hopkins and Thomas Davenport 
White Rock township. In December following 
D. C. Fox was appointed Justice of the peace for 



32 HISTORY OP MCDONALD COUNTY. 

Buffalo township, David Davenport, for White 
Rock, Jehu Jones for Rutledge township. In 
February 1866 Ransom Plumlee was appointed 
justice for Richwood township, and John F. 
Lewis for Elk Horn. Dl. N. Williams was appoint- 
ed treasurer. At this time the county court had 
jurisdiction of probate matters and the principal 
part of the records of the court pertain to affairs 
of administration, appointment of officers and 
locating roads. 

At this time the office of public administrator 
was certainly a lucrative one as the records show 
that in 1866 he had charge of the following es- 
tates: Samuel R. Cotter, John Stearns, James 
Williams, Benjamin Gooden, George W. Martin, 
Anderson Carter, Tierney J. Cook, G. C. Culp, 
Solomon Lankford, David Brock, William Bur- 
gess, Basil Lewis, Nathaniel Meador, Samuel 
B. Keeler, John D. Hendry, William G. Morris, 
Martin Stafford , Harrison Ray, Robert Walker, 
Hugh Carroll, Alfred Martin, Mrs. Delilah 
McGhee, D. Y. Lauderdale, Joseph Morrow, 
Jacob Carter, James T. Davenport, G. W. Nut- 
ting, W. Hamblin, John M. Harmon, Wilson 
Gonce, S. H. Carroll, J. B. King, Smith Elkins, 
Thomas Woolsey, H. Carroll, Moses Pendergraft 
J. T. Haskins, R. F. Walker, Samuel B. Keele, 
Sr., James, N. Appleby, John H. Hastings, John 
D. Henry, Francis A. Carter, J. W. Cole, J. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 33 

Wimpey, William Skinner, Matilda Mitchell, 
John Hevalison, Carroll Kirk, U. S. Young, 
Sr., and Samuel Brown. It appears from the 
records that Benjamin Ross was public adminis- 
trator previous to the appointment of Daniel 
Harmon, but how or when he became posessed 
of that office there is no record to show. 

In the records of the county court. May 8, 1866 
is the following order: Ordered by the court that 
municipal townships of this couuty be and are 
bounded as follows: All territory included in 
ranges 29 and 30 shall constitute a municipal 
township and be known as Pox township. Also, 
all territory included in ranges 31 and 32 shall 
constitute a mutiicipal township known as Pine- 
ville township. Also, all territory included in 
ranges 33 and 34 which shall be known as Elk 
township. 

The next order following establishes the vot- 
ing places in each of the three tdwnships respect- 
ively at the residence of H. H. Pox, in Pox town- 
ship at Pineville, in Pineville township and at 
the residence of B. P. Hopkins in Elk township. 
It was also ordered that each justice of the peace 
be furnished with a copy of the order giving 
metes and bounds of their respective townships. 
Why this arrangement was effected and what 
disposition was made of the various Justices of 
the Peace does not appear. It evidently did not 



34 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

give satisfaction as in the following August 
and November various changes were made and 
several precincts established, a more full ac- 
count of which will be given in the chapter on 
townships. 

Among the interesting orders made about this 
time were those to cancel notes given for loans 
of the various public funds. One signed by A. 
S. McGhee, dated September, 1854, for $185.98; 
One signed by T. A. B. Pearson and Joseph 
Pearson May 17, 1854 for $100; one by M. A. 
Laughlin, Aug. 11, 1857 for $50. These notes 
were canceled by reason of their being void by 
limitation. 

Warrants were drawn on the county treasurer 
in '4866-7 to pay for wolf scalps, at the rate of 
one dollar each scalp, to Gilbert Bolen, E. P. 
Burns, Eleven Caulk, William Mooney, Isaac 
Martin and Wyatt Edmonds. The party produc- 
ing the scalp was required to prove that the 
wolf had been killed within the borders of the 
county, to entitle him to the bounty. 

ALLOTTING JUSTICES. 

There are numerous orders on record during 
this time making the appointment for allotting 
justices for the various townships. As this prac- 
tice has long since become obsolete, it will likely 
be an item of interest as well as curiosity to know 
what an allotting justice was. Under the road 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 35 

laws in those days an overseer was appointed 
by the county court for a certain road or, in 
more thickly settled counties, for a road dis- 
trict. This county being very sparsely settled, 
the overseers were appointed for a certain road 
designated in the order of appointment. In 
each township one of the justices of the peace 
was appointed by the county court to allot, or 
parcel out, the road hands in his township and 
designate under what road overseer they should 
work. This was called the allotting justice. He 
also had jurisdiction over cases where parties 
failed or refused to work their time. 



36 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



CHAPTER V. 

TOWNSHIPS. 

ANDERSON township was established by order 
of the county court at the March term 1896. The 
voting place was established at the town of An- 
derson, from which the township derived its 
name. The K. C. P. & G. R. R. enters this town- 
ship near the northeast corner, runs entirely 
through and passes out on the south line a little 
west of the center. Beaver valley also enters 
near the northeast corner and empties into In- 
dian creek just below the town of Anderson. 
The above-named stream meanders through the 
southern part of the township. The first set- 
tlement was mentioned in the chapter on Early 
Settlement. The principal place is Anderson, 
a nice little town, and one of the best trading 
points in the county. On Indian creek^and-the 
adjacent valleys are many fine farms n and pros- 
perous families. The township was taken from 
Buffalo, McMillin, Pineville and Erie townships 
and contains about 35 sections of land. 

Buffalo township lies in the .northwest -cor- 
ner of the county. It derives its name f rom^Buf - 
f alo creek which runs through it, entering some 
four miles from the northeast corner and bear- 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 37 

ing southwesterly passes the south line some 
two miles from the southwest corner. This 
township seems to have been organized before 
the war, but the boundary was not as at present. 
The county court records also show that the 
township was organized May 3, 1871. This was 
evidently but a re -arrangement of the township 
with regard to the voting precinct, which for a 
short time included all the western portion of 
the county embraced in ranges 33 & 34. There 
was a voting place on Beeman valley before the 
war. The present voting place is at May. 

The early settlements in this townshijD were 
confined to Buffalo creek including Sugar Fork, 
and Beeman hollow. Camj)bell Price, father to 
our "Uncle Billy", came to this county about 
the year, 1836, He left Tennessee in 1829. Stop- 
ped in Arkansas one year, then moved to Spring 
river where he remained a few years, then set- 
tled on Buffalo creek. Daniel McRae came 
about the same time. James Woldon settled on 
Sugar Fork about 1837. James Beeman settled 
on the old Owens farm, at the mouth of Beeman 
hollow between 1837 and 1840. The Dobbses, 
Benagee Brown, James Crabtree, Richard and 
Simeon Price, George Nutting, M. Burns, Hen- 
ry Barlow and a few other famlies were located 
here prior to or just after 1840. 

Hart and May are the two post offices and 



1 



38 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

trading points, each having a small country 
store. Formerly all the settlements were along 
the bottoms and valleys. On Buffalo are some 
very fine farms, those of W. C. Price, R. Har- 
rington, H. D. Roark, Martha Owens and Sam- 
uel Ledford being among the best. W. C. Roark, 
deceased, settled in Roark valley along in the 
fifties and made a good farm, where he reared 
a highly respected family. In late years the 
Flat Woods are being put into cultivation, and 
are proving quite productive. 

Center township was named from the cen- 
tral location it occupies on the east side of the 
county. It was organized pursuant to an order 
of the county court. May 9, 1872. Big Sugar 
creek, Mikes creek, Trent creek and Little Mis- 
souri are the ^Drincipal streams. The voting 
place is at Powell, which is, also, the principal 
trading point. 

This township was established, with several 
others. May 9, 1872. There had b^en a voting 
place in that part of the county for many years 
before that time. Once it was at the residence 
of Henry H. Fox, and at another time at a log 
school house near Powell; also at Yonce's store. 
This part of the county was known as Cooper 
township for a while, then was designated Fox 
township. 

The early settlers began to locate here about 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 39 

the time settlements were made in other parts 
of the county. M. A. Langhlin, J. S. Laughlin, 
Jubal Duwees, Billy Offield and Whittenbiirg 
settled on Big Sugar about 1834. Phillip Michael 
from whom that stream is named, settled on 
Mike creek in the early thirties. John Stafford, 
father of Claib Stafford, came from Tennessee in 
1836, and settled on Mike creek. He afterward 
improved the place where J. H. Cowan now lives, 
where he died about 1856. Of four children but 
one, Claib, now lives in this county; he still oc- 
cupies part of the old homestead. Thomas 
Ethridge lived , on Mike creek when Stafford 
came here in 1836. Snyder lived where Powell 
now is. John Trent settled on Trent creek 
about this time, and the families of J. Dotson Bil- 
ly Carnott and Barney Bixbey located about this 
time or soon after. John Puckett and son Jim 
came soon afterward. The Coopers came in the 
early forties and put up a mill at Powell on the 
place now owned by Mac Harper. L. Sherlock 
ran a distillery near there about 1838 and later. 
This township is five miles north and south by 
seven and one-half miles east and west, and con- 
tains 37 1-2 sections of land. The valleys are 
extremely fertile and contain many productive 
farms. The uplands are considerably broken 
but of late years are being put into cultivation 
and i)roduce small grains, grass and fruits abund- 



40 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. J 

i 

antly. 

Cyclone Township was established by ordeii 
of the county court at the June term 1896. li 
was named from Cyclone post office^ at whicll 
the voting place was established. Big- Sugai< 
creek is the only stream of any importance i 
this township. J. A. Foster has a small stoc 
of goods at this x)lace and a grist and saw miP 
is in operation. There were but few settlements 
made in the present limits of this township in 
the early days, most of them being above or be, 
low. A man by the name of Tyner is said to 
have located on the farm now owned by John 
Millison, in the early thirties. John Heraldson 
settled just north of the Billy Warren farm about 
1838, and Levi Click, on the Barney Turner place 
in 1840. John Ferguson is said to have settled ^ 
on Big Sugar ^jrior to 1840, John Stafford, who | 
formerly lived in Center, and a few other families 
lived here when the war broke out. They, how- 
ever, left the county during that_ troublesome 
period and, a number of the old settlers sayjji 
that John C. Hampton was the only man living 
within the present limits of this township when 
the war closed. 

The surface of this township is similar t 
Center, many productive farms being found in 
the valleys and creek bottom. It is six miles 
east and west, and five miles north and south,- 



i 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 41 

contaning thirty sections of land. 

Samuel Claiborn, who formerly lived on the Ab 
Johnson farm, was a prominent character of this 
vicinity for several years before the war. His 
true name was Sams, but many years before, 
he had killed a man in Tennessee, and changed 
his name in order to conceal his identity. He 
moved from here to Hickory county where he 
died at the advanced age of 98 years. 

Erie Township was established June 9, 1872. 
The name is derived from the village of Erie, 
for many years the principal trading place and 
only post office in the township. The voting 
place is at this village. Indian Springs is in the 
northeast, and Donohue (now called Goodman) 
is in the northwest part. Indian creek runs al- 
most diagonally through the township from 
noL'theast to southwest. Some of the best farms 
in the county are in this locality, and the Mc- 
Natt Mills, now operated by F. A. Sears, is 
noted throughout this part of the state as one of 
the oldest and best milling properties in the 
southwest. 

In addition to the names of early settlers men- 
tioned in chaj^ter II, the following have been 
secured: Ira Yates settled on the place now 
owned by Mr. Dalton sometime in the thirties. 
John Mayfield informs me that his father located 
in this county in 1840, instead of prior to that 



42 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

time as elswhere stated. He came from Monroe 
county, Kentucky, and settled on the place which 
Mr. Mayfield now owns. A man named Kell 
had settled on the place now owned by George 
Allman before the Mayiields came. About the 
same time Harris lived on the John Harmon 
place at Erie and a family named Antney, on the 
Ebbinghaus farm. The Lees came about the 
same time and settled where John Boyd lives. 
Dan Harmon says that William Cleveland, a half 
bloodlndian was the first settler on Indian creek. 
He owned a j)lace where Erie now is which he 
sold to Mark Harmon, who came to this county 
from Green county Tennessee several years be- 
fore the war. He, also, informs me that the first 
school ever taught in Erie tovmship was in a 
little log house at the mouth of Elk Horn. 
Moses Pollard was the teacher, having been em- 
ployed by Mark Harmon, Jonathan Blair and 
W. C. Duval. A man named William Broadie 
lived on the Ebbinghaus place prior to the war 
and owned a few slaves; Jonathan Blair also, 
was the owner of a negro Vv^oman. 

Elk Horn township lies in congressional town- 
ship 23, and includes part of ranges 80 and 31. 
It Avas established practically as at i3resent, by 
order of the county court, May 9, 1872. The 
name was derived from the two creeks in its 
western part. Beth page is the principal trad- 



HISTORY OP MCDONALD COUNTY. 43 

ing point, post office and voting place. Besides 
the two Elk Horn valleys, there are extensive 
Flat Woods in this township and a large per 
cent, of its territory is in improved farms. The 
land is generally productive and it has appear- 
ance of being one of the prosperous sections of 
the county. According to the order of the court, 
it is six miles from east to west and seven from 
north to south, containing forty two sections. 

This part of the county was mostly overlooked 
by the first settlers, there being no large streams 
as in most of the other townships. There were 
a few however, who came here in an early day. 
In 1847 there is said to have been but one house 
between where McNatt's mill now is and Mitch- 
ell's prairie. This was BuUard's, a family of that 
name having settled on the flat woods prior to 
that time. Mitchell lived on Mitchell's prairie 
some time in the early forties, and it may be 
earlier. The Brocks came in an early day, and 
there was a small German settlement near the 
Barringer place along in the forties. 

Elk River township) lies south of the river in 
range 33, extending to the Arkansas line. In 
1835, when this was a part of Barry county Elk 
River township comprised the southwest corner. 
Though changed several times, and given other 
names, this township dates back to the orgTaiiza- 
tion of the county. In its present form it was 



44 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

established in the reorg-anization in 1872. It 
has the distinction of being the place where the 
first settlement was made in the county, (1828.) 
This is the first that can be designated, but down 
near the river near where the John Marshall 
farm now is, there is an old grave yard, grown 
up with brush and briers until it is almost im- 
possible to get to it, and in such a secluded place 
that hundreds of our people do not know it is 
there. In this abandoned burial place are a 
number of tomb stones, all made out of native 
limestone, large, broad stones, nicely dressed. 
The lettering is almost defaced by time, but one, 
at least, indicates a death in 1807. Whether a 
settlement was made there prior to that time I 
have not been able to ascertain. 

Noel is the principal town and is one of the 
most important railroad points in the county. 
Elk River, Butler and. Mill creeks, are the 
streams, and some of the finest farms in the 
county are on the river bottom. The voting 
place for many years was at the Marshall school 
house, but in 1896 it was moved to Noel. 

McMiLLiN township was named from John 
McMillin, w^ho lived just above the present site 
of Coy. It w^as created by order of the county 
court. May 9, 1872. Patterson and Buffalo creeks 
are the principal streams w^hich flow through it 
while the river forms the southern boundary. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 45 

The voting place is at McMillin school house. 
Tiff City is the principal town. 

The settlement of this township dates back to 
between 1835 and 1840. Abner Sherman, a na- 
tive of Ohio, located in 1842. David Cummings 
came out as Missionary for the Indians when 
they were removed to the Territory, and settled 
the farm just above where Tiff City now stands. 
Uncle Andy Smith was a local preacher in 1842, 
and lived on the place where C. L. Moore and 
his wife were killed in 1894, Eleven Caulk was 
among the first settlers on Patterson creek and 
owned slaves. Finley Lane settled here in 1845. 
The Ollivers, James Bly, Allen Williams, and 
several other families settled along the creek in 
the early forties. W. B. Mitchell came from 
Tennessee in 1852; Bradford Seabourn in 1858. 
One of the first establishments of this township 
was a distillery. Alfred Oliver erected one near 
where Mathew Kincannon now lives, way back 
in the early days. The building was of logs and 
was three and a half stories high. It had an im- 
mense brick chimney some sixteen feet square. 
William Hoaght^n, who afterwards owned the 
Langley farm on the river, ran a distillery at 
Enterprise. He also raised horses for the south- 
ern market. He w^ould trade twenty gallons of 
whisky for a pony mare which he would keep 
for breeding. It is said he raised fine horses 



46 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

and made quite a fortune. James Bly operated 
the distillery afterwards. He owned several 
slaves. Of course it was against the law to sell 
liquor to Indians then, as it is now, but a prof- 
itable business was carried on with them. When 
a pony or other article, or money was to be ex- 
changed, the iDroperty was left at a convenient 
place where it was taken care of by the distiller. 
The Indian would then make a search in the 
woods and "find" a lot of whisky. It was a 
remarkable coincidence that the value of the 
property and that of the liquor found was about 
the same. 

Hugh Dunagee ran a tan yard near where the 
Morrison school house now is. M. Sliger, also, 
ran a tan yard at the McMillin place. He sold 
to John McMillin who continued the business 
until after the war. David Harlin, a part Cher- 
okee, settled the Keenan farm along in the thir- 
ties. Mathew Kincannon came out from Ten- 
nessee when the Indians were removed, and set- 
tled on what is now the Hafford farm. John 
Walker, in those early days, settled where Hen- 
ry Manning now lives. A free negro called Free 
Lewis settled the Morrison farm, where Charley 
Keenan now lives. 

Mountain Township derives its name from 
the broken and hilly surface of the country, the 
hills in places assuming almost the proportion 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 47 

of mountains. Big Sugar creek is the princi- 
pal stream. 

It was established as a separate township by 
order of the county court, May 9, 1872. The 
voting place is at Schell's mill, and the post of- 
fice there is called Mountain. This is the prin- 
cipal trading point in the township, and consid- 

« 

erable business is done here. 

The first settlers of which an account could 
be obtained came in about 1840 or 1841. John 
Rose, James Boles and a man by the name of 
demons came at that time. Along in the early 
forties Charley Boles and a family named Moore 
came, demons had a corn cracker at the mouth 
of Otter creek. In 1846 Henry Schell bought 
the mill and located there. His son Henry now 
owns the land. Mrs. Elizabeth Schell, widow 
of the elder Henry, is now 78 years old, and has 
a pretty vivid memory of the early days. Her 
father, Jacob Yocum, settled in Stone county in 
1825. For a number of years he xDaid the Indians 
an annual rental of thirty bushels of corn for the 
X^rivilege of living among them. He kept a 
small farm, and hunted and trapped during the 
fur season. Ruben Burnett now owns the place 
settled by James Boles. John Carter owned a 
negro couple who had three or four children. 
Henry Schell brought a negro boy to this county 
with him. He afterwards sold him for $400, 



48 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

and deeded his land with the money. On the 
Berry Moore place is an old orchard that was 
bearing fruit before the war. Many of the trees 
were still bearing good fruit a couple of years 
ago. Phillip Schell states that the people of 
that township held an election to express their 
opinion in regard to secession. He states that 
all except a man named James Guess voted 
against going with the Comfederacy. Guess 
voted for secession, and went south soon after 
the war broke out. He soon repudiated his 
action and w^ent North at the first favorable 
opportunity. The balance of the citizens of this 
township, after the war came up, allied them- 
selves with the Confederacy. This township 
is nearly five and one-half miles square. It con- 
tains twenty-five full sections, five half sections 
on the east side, and five fractional half sections 
on the Arkansas line. 

PiNEViLLE township is one of the original 
divisions having been established when the 
county was first organized. Pineville, the county 
seat, is the principal town, while Lanagan, 
the railroad station, isnotfar behind in business 
importance. The two Sugar creeks and Elk 
river are the principal streams, but there are 
numerous valleys that contain many productive 
farms. The history of its first settlement is 
more fully treated in the early settlement of the 



HISTORY OF MCDONAI.D COUNTY. 49 

county and in the sketch of the town, and in the 
chapter on County Organization. Until 1896 it 
contained much more than at present, but in 
that year considerable was taken off to form 
Anderson township, and several sections off the 
east end to form Cyclone township. This leaves 
Pineville near the north line instead of practic- 
ally in the center as before. 

This being the county seat and most of the 
roads in the county leading to it, the people of 
this township experienced more of the ravages 
of war than any other portion • of the county, 
detachments from both the Northern and South- 
ern army alternately passing tlirough. 

Prairie township occupies the southwest cor- 
ner of the county. It is named from Gowskin 
prairie which extends over the greater portion 
of its surface. Southwest City is the principal 
town, not only of this township, but of the en- 
tire county. Saratoga Springs is a small vil- 
lage near the east side. Honey creek, which 
runs through the southwest corner is the only 
stream of any consequence. This township con 
tains quite a body of prairie land and is the 
most productive of any portion of the county 
of the same size. The large fields of wheat, 
corn and other crops that can be seen at a sin- 
gle stretch over the prairie forms a striking 
contrast to the usual monotony of the timbered 



50 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

regions. 

Until a few years ago the voting place was at 
a school house on the prairie not far from J. P. 
Barnwell's, but Southwest City being the trad- 
ing point for nearly all the people of the town- 
ship, they petitioned the county court to change 
it to that place, which was accordingly done. 

This part of the county was quite thinly set- 
tled until some time in 'the fifties, when consid- 
erable land was entered. A few families settled 
on Honey creek prior to that time. In June, 
1842, Burton McGhee located where Southwest 
City now is and established a trading point there. 
About the time the Indians were removed to the 
Territory, settlements were started at various 
points along the state line some two or three of 
which were within the present limits of this 
township. After McGhee put up his store peo- 
ple settled near there, and Southwest soon 
became a point of considerable importance. W. 
Gonce, Jessee Ware, J. P. Maddox, S. J. Hess 
and Mark Howard located there a few years la- 
ter. The two Fields families, R. Caldwell, H. 
Remington, H. D. Budd and John McGhee are 
mentioned among the early settlers. Robert 
Shields, a native of Pennsylvania, but later 
from East Tennessee, came to this county in 
1846 and settled on the farm on which his son 
George R. still lives. S. Briedlove, R. P. Cleve- 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 51 

land, B. S. Ervin and John Hays all had entered 
land in th e fifties. There were a few settled on the 
river between 1837 and 1840, but their names 
have not been ascertained. 

RiCHWOOD Township is situated in the north- 
east corner of the county, and is five and one- 
half miles from east to west, and seven miles 
from north to south. It was established as a 
separate township by order of the county court 
May 9, 1872. The principal town is Rocky Com- 
fort, a nice little village near the northeast cor- 
ner. One fork of Indian creek takes its rise at 
a spring in this town and meanders through 
the north and west part of the township. Mike 
creek and Kings creek, also rise in this town- 
ship. The southern part is somewhat broken 
and hilly, but most of its surface is compara- 
tively level. Although it was not settled to any 
great extent as early as some other parts of the 
county, it is now thickly populated and much of 
it is in a high state of cultivation. The soil is 
generally productive, especially for small grains, 
fruit and meadows. There are more orchards 
here than in any other part of the county ex- 
cept where the Ozark Orchard Company have 
invested in the last two years. 

There appears to have been a few people in 
this iDart of the county along in the thirties. 
A. J, Duncan settled in 1836. There were a few 



52 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

Indians in the neighborhood as late as 1840. 
The Lambersons, Christians, T. F. Tomlinson, 
and a few other families whose names could not 
be ascertained, were here about the latter for- 
ties and early fifties. John Davidson settled in 
this county in 1853. Mrs. Ford, mother of John 
A. Ford, located near Rocky Comfort in 1843. 
Isaac Plumlee settled in this township in 1853. 

White Rock Township was in existence soon 
after the organization of the county, and the 
voting place about where it is now. There was 
a church where Jane now is and one of the first 
free schools in the county was established there. 
Milo Martin taught a subscription school there 
in 1856, having the whole township in which to 
work, and secured thirty scholars. He organi- 
zed the school district that fall. 

William A. Davenport settled in this town- 
ship in 1836, on the farm now occupied by Joab 
Brown. His father, Martin Davenport, came 
the next year. William DeHaven lived on the 
Bookout place about that time. There were a 
few other families whose names have not been 
learned which came about the same time. Wil- 
liam K. Young came to this county in 1848, and 
he says there were a number of families here 
then and several more came soon after. When 
he came a man named Bramlet lived on the 
Bookout farm, and Jacob Roe lived across the 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 53 

creek from Elijah Evan's place. Dr. Daven- 
port came in 1853; he practiced medicine here 
for twenty years. Along in the fifties, J. H. 
Slinkard, J. W. Brown, Gilbert White, John 
Coffee, Morgan and several others settled in this 
locality. Little Sugar creek and Little Missouri 
are the principal streams; Jane and Caverna are 
the two villages. The township is six miles 
square, except the fractional sections on the state 
line. The surface is generally broken, but the 
soil is extremly rich and the farms all product- 
ive. 



54 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



CHAPTER VI. 

TOWNS AND VILLAGES. 



Anderson — Beaver Springs. 

This thriving town is located on the Kansas 
City, Pittsburg- & Gulf railroad six miles north- 
west of Pineville, and is one of the leading busi- 
ness points in the county. For many years 
Beaver Springs, just above the present town site, 
has been a noted resort of the county for meet- 
ings and picnics. The water of the spring flows 
out from beneath a high stone bluff in a clear, 
cold stream of the finest quality and in great 
abundance, A nice grove in the valley near the 
spring added to the attraction and made it one 
of the loveliest places for many miles around. 
Many years before the war the Beaver Springs 
Missionary Baptist Association built a log church 
at this place. During the war it was bu rnt down. 
Another log church was built apout 1867. This 
served as a place of worship until about the year 
1884 when the present frame structure was erect- 



HISTOBY OF MCDONAI^D COUNTY. 55 

ed. Robert Anderson located there in 1887 and 
started a little country store and the post office 
was established that year, named Anderson. 
S. T. Bennett ran a saw mill here about the same 
time. When the railroad was built and a station 
established the place at once sprang into import- 
ance. The town of Anderson was surveyed and 
platted by M. E. Meador, April 8, 1891. In the 
following August, S. T. Bennett had Bennett's 
Addition to the town of Anderson laid off. Sev- 
eral good business houses and neat residences 
have been built and a vast amount of trade has 
been attracted to the town by the enterprise of 
its people. 

Buffalo City. 

John and William Pogue dug a well on their 
fathers farm on Buffalo creek, the place now own- 
ed by Royal Harrington, and had a town survey- 
ed and platted in August, 1881. There never 
was any foundation for the pretention of medical 
properties for this water and no one ever put 
any faith in the town or its founders. A little 
stock of goods was kept there a short time, but 
the land was again fenced into the farm after a 
couple of years and Buffalo City put back into 
cultivation. 



56 history of mcdonald county. 

Bannock. 
This was formerly a small village on Buffalo 
creek some mile or two above the state line. 
Jim and Lee Skinner built a mill here some years 
before the war which was burnt during that un- 
pleasant period. Hiram Young rebuilt it and 
for some time had an upright saw for the pur- 
pose of making lumber. In late years W. G. 
Smith kept a stock of general merchandise and 
George Hurley had a drug store. The old mill 
was replaced several years ago by one with 
good sets of corn and wheat burrs and did quite 
an extensive business until the roller process 
came into general use. The mill is still operat- 
ed, but all otheri business has long since been 
abandoned or moved away. Bill Roberts, who 
once kept a store there gave it the name, but I 
have not been able to find any one who knows 
from what it is derived. 

Caverna. 

Caverna is located near the Arkansas line on 
Little Sugar creek, and has a water mill and 
store. This has been a mill site for the last 
fifty years or more. The water power is fine 
and capable of running more than ten times the 
machinery it now operates. Should a rail road 
ever be built through that part of the county it 
is liable to become a flourishing little town. The 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 57 

post office was established here about 1867. 
There are numeTous caves m this vicinity, some 
quite extensive, and the name was derived from 
them. 

Coy. 

Coy is now a post office and small trading point 
on Patterson creek just below the widow Mc- 
Millin farm. Along about 1883 Sterling Mitchell, 
son of W. B. Mitchell went to Texas and there 
married a young lady of considerable fortune. 
Young Mitchell, with his new bride, came back 
to McDonald county when he conceived the idea 
of building a mill and laying out a town at the 
upper end of his father's farm. He soon had the 
enterprise under headway and the mill was soon 
running. Mitchell, however, soon sold out and 
went back to Texas. The mill changed hands 
a few times, when it was purchased by T. H. 
Wimpey and George McCoy, who operated it 
successfully for several years, doing a general 
merchant and custom business and running a 
saw mill in connection. T. H. Wimpey, Frank 
Beeman, Howard Langley and W. G. Smith were 
among those who kept stores there. In 1896 the 
mill was moved to Tiff City, but a saw mill was 
soon located on the old site. Tiie store for the 
past year or two has been run by John and Dallas 
Seabourn and Wm. Cunningham. McCoy sold 



58 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

his interest in the mill a few years ago and has 
been farming- since. 

Crystal Springs. 

About the time of the excitement over Med- 
ical Water, an effort was made to build up a 
health resort at Crystal spring about tw^o miles 
north of Pineville. J. P. LaMance was one of 
the leading men in the enterprise. A company 
was formed and an assessment was made in 
August 1881 for the purpose of building a hotel. 
Nothing was done beyond the erection of one or 
two small buildings, and the project w^as soon 
abandoned. 

Cyclone. 

Cyclone is the name given to a small trad- 
ing point on Big Sugar creek about eight miles 
above Pineville. It has a w^ater mill and a gen- 
eral store. J. A. Foster keeps the store and 
has charge of the post office which was estab- 
lished in 1883. 

Donohue — Goodman. 

When the rail road was built through this 
county in 1890, a small station has established 
in the northwest part of Erie towmship. This 
^vent under the name of Erie Station, and New 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 59 

4 

Erie, but was finally named Wade, in honor of 
W. H. Wade, then member of Congress from 
this district. It was not a very desirable location 
and, beyond a few small dwellings and two or 
three little business houses, never made much 
growth. When the railroad passed into the 
Kansas City, Pittsburg & Gulf Company, the 
town of Donohue was laid out and a good de- 
pot built there. It is quite a point for shipping 
timber for the lead and coal mines. 

Elk Mills. 

In ante bellum days Elk Mills promised to be 
the leading town of the county. Situated on the 
Elk River near the Nation line, surrounded by 
the broad river bottom farms and in close prox- 
imity to the fertile valleys of Patterson and 
Buffalo creeks with the rich prairies within a 
couple of miles, its inhabitants might well look 
forward to a bright future. Besides, the water 
facilities here are most excellent and easily util- 
ized. As long ago as the early 50 's there was a 
good big grist mill here, and in 1856 there was 
a hotel, kept by L. Richtus. Aron Scritchfield 
was black smith. W. H. Sorrels kept a drug store. 
E. S. Lindsey, W. N. Mantej* and Jameson and 
Manter each kept stocks of general merchandise. 
Several other families, among whom w^as Dr. 
Trader, lived there, The mill was burnt during 



60 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

the war, and the town gradually fell into decay, 
until now there are but a few old ruins left to 
mark the spot where it once stood. 

Enterprise. 

This town was located on the farm now occu- 
pied by the widow Keenan on Patterson creek. 
It sprung up when the Indians were first removed 
to the Indian Territory and up to the war was 
a trading point of considerable importance. Jim 
Bly kept a store and the post office. William 
Bly, who married a Cherokee in Georgia had a 
steam distillery. John Patterson built the mill 
there which afterwards belonged to Caulk. A 
part Cherokee named David Harlin, atone time 
owned the distillerv. He sat out twentv-five 
acres in peach trees for the purpose of raising 
fruit to make peach brandy. Samuel Lane, of 
Roan county Tennessee, was the blacksmith until 
1S46, when he died. There were thirty or forty 
houses in the village, and about two hundred 

« 

inhabitants. 

Erie. 

The first post office was established at Erie in 
1851, at the residence of John M. Harmon. It re- 
mained there until Mr. Harmon's death in 186:^. 
The office was discontinued until 1868 when it 
was re-established. This same year the town 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 61 

of Erie was laid oiT at the instance of Dan Har- 
mon, he being the owner of the land Since that 
time it has been a small trading point, there be- 
ing usually one or two stores. The best busi- 
ness house ever builtthere was a one story brick 
put up by Dan Harmon about 1890 or 1891. It 
was burnt with the entire contents, a stock of 
general merchandise owned by Charlie Harmon, 
on the night of March 12, 1895. This proved a 
severe loss to the worthy young man, who was 
at the time dangerously ill with pneumonia, and 
the place has never regained its former business 
prosperity. This village is situated in a fertile 
part of the county, which is inhabited by an in- 
telligent, thrifty and agreable set of jJeople. 

Gates — May. 

This was a i^ost office at the forks of Buffalo 
-creek and Sugar Fork, established a few years 
after the first settlement in that vicinity. It was 
on the route from Neosho to Maysville. Richard 
Price was post master for several years before 
the war. Along in the eighties, while W. T. 
Child held the position, he resigned, and the 
office was discontinued for a while. Dr. Maynard 
located there, put up a small store and the office 
was revived under the name of May. Gates was 
so called from General Gates, and May from the 
first syllable of the doctor's name, or that of his 



62 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

daughter May. 

Hart 

Prior to 1840, the northwest part of Buffalo 
township was very sparsely settled. The road 
from Seneca to Southwest City left the state line 
near the Newton county line and swung out into 
the Nation for some three or four miles. The 
Flat Woods between Buifalo creek and the state 
line was almost an unbroken forest. In 1883 
Phillip Rinehart interested the neighbors in cut- 
ting a road straight through thus enabling trav- 
elers to cut off the bend into the Nation. The 
post offices for the community were Seneca or 
Tiff City, each about seven miles distant. 
The writer presented a petition to the county 
court to establish the public road as made by 
Mr. Rinehart and the same year made applica- 
tion to establish a post office on the route. This 
application was endorsed by W. T. Child, P. M. 
at Gates, and in a short time an order was re- 
cieved to select as short and convenient a name 
as possible. Mr. or Mrs Child suggested Hart, 
the last syllable of Mr. Rinehart 's name, and in 
in a few weeks we were getting our mail daily 
almost at our doors. Mr. Rinehart served for 
some time, then the office was moved from his 
house to Chandler's mill. Tom Cummings built 
the house now occupied by William Spraggins 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 63 

and for a while the office was kept at his house. 
About 1885, C. Tucker bought out Cummings, 
and put up a neat store building and a nice stock 
of goods. He soon built up a good trade and 
for a few years did well. Since that time Hart 
has been a considerable trading point as well as 
post office. 

Indian Springs. 

Among the traditions of the Indians who 
formerly inhabited this section of country, was 
one of the healing qualities of the springs near 
Indian creek. The first white men to visit the 
country were told of them, but the Indians 
could never be induced to reveal their location. 
The older settlers who claim to be posted in the 
lore of the community, say that a man named 
Friend, one of the first settlers on Indian creek, 
made a search for the springs and found the fa- 
mous Four Great Medical Springs. One of his 
family being severely afflicted with rheumatism 
the water was used and a cure speedily effected. 
Mrs. Carroll used the water about 1840, and a 
most remarkable cure was the result. There 
being but few people in the country, and the 
means of spreading news meager, the medicinal 
properties seem to have been forgotten and the 
use of the water discontinued until 1880. About 
this time J. J. McNatt and a few others took an 



64 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

interest in the springs and arrangements were 
made to more thoroughly test the medical prop- 
erties of the water. The result proving satis- 
factory, a village was laid out July 7, 1881. R. 
W. Williams, Robert Anderson and John Bar- 
low were the trustees, and T. J. Golden, treas- 
urer. In seven days two hundred lots were sold 
and twenty buildings erected. The town enjoy- 
ed a lively boom, people flocking in from all di- 
rections. The growth was so rapid that in Au- 
gust of the same year, McNafct laid out an addi- 
tion to the towm, Williams & Tennison -another; 
Williams & McNatt a third, and in March, 1882, 
Boyden a fourth. When at its best the popula- 
tion was estimated at near 2000. The four 
springs were nicely improved with walls fencing, 
pil^es, etc., bath houses built, substantial busi- 
ness houses erected, and the little city had every 
appearance of permanence. A handsome City 
Park was reserved, a rostrum and band stand 
erected, and here for several years were held 
picnics, public meetings celebrations, etc., where 
large crowds alw^ays assembled to enjoy the 
hospitality of the people of the famous Indian 
Medical Springs. 

Among the prominent men whose names ap- 
pear in connection with the place at that time 
are: W. E. Smith, Scott Ferris, W. J. Adkins, 
J. B. Barlow P. M. Fink, L. C. Brown, Edward 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 65 

Bogard and James C. Cole, city attorney. 

One part of the city was named College Hill 
and on this was built a handsome tw^o- story 
school house 36x56 feet being for many years the 
best school building in the county. A handsome 
hotel called the Planter's was built there, and 
for some time did a good business. It is the 
largest and best arranged hotel building ever 
erected in McDonald county. 

But the fates w^ere against Indian Springs and 
the boom soon bursted. The town gradually fell 
into decay. Many buildings w^ere moved away; 
somewhere destroyed by fire, while others were 
left vacant until destroyed by the ravages of time. 

In 1887 Dr. J. C. PeTit, of Joplin rented the 
hotel and undertook to establish a printing office 
and infirmary. He advertised quite extensively, 
and for a while there w^as hopes of reviving the 
fortunes of the town. Bu t this enterprise failed, 
and now but little is left of the once famous town. 
P. M. Fink has aneat stock of general merchan- 
dise and also runs the hotel. Robert Duffield 
has a small general stock. 

The following taken from the history of Mc- 
Donald county published in 1888, is a beautiful 
description of the lake and its surroundings. 
The steam boat has since been sold and the grand 
excursions numbered with the pleasures that 
went with the passing of the city: 



66 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

"At the foot of the hill some 100 yards from 
the town is lake Mc Natt, a beautiful body of 
water, formed by the dam across Indian creek, 
and is about three miles in' length by half a mile 
wide, its waters as clear as crystal and vary- 
ing in depth from five to fifteen feet, its banks 
diversified with beautiful valleys, wooded hills 
and rocky cliffs, whose tops, in places, project 
for many feet over the water and are reflected 
in its clear depths. On this lake has been built 
a beautiful little side -wheel steam boat capable 
of seating about seventy-five persons, and noth- 
ing is more enjoyable than a ride around the lake 
on this boat, giving one a fine view of the wooded 
hills and rocky cliffs on one side, and the fertile 
valleys and cultivated fields on the other, and at 
the foot of the lake the mill, with its whirr and 
bustle and busy scenes of active life, reminding 
us that we are not wholly seggregated from the 
great w^ork-day world about us. Nowhere in all 
the great Southwest can there be found within 
the same radius a more beautiful or picturesque 
region than that immediately surrounding this 
place." 

Lanagan. 

In 1886 Dr. Pausett in the employment of a 
Pennsylvania Oil company bored down to a depth 
of 844 feet where he struck a strong vein of white 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 67 

sulphiir water which flows with great force. It 
is located on a high bank of Indian creek and is 
surounded by various other springs. The oil 
project, was abandoned, but M. R. DeGrolf, I. D. 
Galbraitli T. G. Lanagan and others jDurchased 
the land and, when the railroad was built, con- 
ceived the idea of building a town. It was called 
Sulphur Well City. But little was done with it 
until the ra;ilroad, or Ozark Orchard Company 
secured the most of the land when a dexDot was 
built and the place named Lanagan. The well 
has been sealed uj), all but a small stream and 
the water conducted to a tank and fountain near 
the depot. This fountain is quite a novel sight 
and is admired by the many hundreds of people 
who stop at this station on their way up and 
down the road. This artesian well flows with 
sufficient force and volume to supply a good big 
town, while its medical qualities are nowhere 
surpassed in the Great Southwest. A beautiful 
park with numerous sprays a^nd fountains and 
lakes could easily be made here supplied by this 
' 'natural water works" and Lanagan be made 
one of the most attractive of health resorts. 
At present it is a prosperous little village with 
three stores, two hotels a new church and school 
house, and is doing a large timber business. C. 
Lewis & Son for several years have kei3t a large 
stock of goods here, run a saw mill and done per- 



68 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

haps the largest business of any one firm in the 
county. 

Noel. 

For many years T. A. Marshall kept a store 
on his farm in Elk River township, but when 
the railroad was built the town of Noel w^as plat- 
ted and he moved his business to that place. 
There has never been any effort to boom this 
town, but it has had a steady and j^eri^anent 
growth. One of the best business houses in the 
county is at Noel. It is a substantial one story 
stone containing four large rooms. Two are oc- 
cupied by Marshall, Tatum & Co. , one by Dr. 
Beeson'sdrug store, the other by Charles Gratz, 
hardware. There are several other small stores 
in town. C. E. Davis has just completed a hand- 
some hotel building. The O'Jo Club House, 
which stands on the promontory between Butler 
creek and the river is a handsome place. The 
grain elevator, draws much important business 
and, in connection with the stock yards, makes 
Noel the most important shipping point in the 
county for grain and live stock. 

This town is noted for the beauty of its 
location, the style and neatness of its dw^ellings 
and its water facilities for fishing, bathing and 
boating. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 69 

PiNEVILLE. 

On the 11th day of June, 1847, the present site 
of Pineville was surveyed for Samuel Burke, 
who then owned the land. Nine blocks were 
laid out, the center one being reserved for a pub- 
lic square. On this the first court house was 
built a few years later. The new town was nam- 
ed Maryville, in honor of Mrs. Mary Mosier, 
wife of J. K. Mosier. 

At this time Newton county embraced all of 
the territory now included in McDonald county 
and the records of the location of Maryville are 
on file in that county. Incident to the contest 
over the county seat that came up soon afterward; 
also i3artly owing to the fact that the pine forests 
reached almost to the borders of the town, and 
considerable pine lumber was sawed there, the 
name was changed to Pineville, a few years 
after its first survey. Another reason given 
for the change of name is that there was anoth- 
er Maryville in this state. 

When the act of March 3, 1849, passed the 
legislature providing for the organization of 
McDonald county, the commissioners were ap- 
pointed and ordered to meet at Pineville. But 
the little town of Rutledge became a contest- 
ant for the county seat, and a county seat war 
was at once precipitated. After a three days 



70 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

election Rntledge won by a small majority, and 
that place became the seat of justice until it 
was finally relocated at Pineville in 1857. J. K. 
Mosier and John B. King were among the lead- 
ing spirits in favor of Pineville, and Joseph 
Pearson and Burton McGhee, in favor of Rut- 
ledge. 

The contest spread from the rival towns until 
it became a struggle between the two ends 
of the county. During this time considerable 
ill feelings were engendered, and several fist 
and skull fights occured between members of 
the two factions. Propositions were bandied 
back and forth to meet at the ford of the river 
and ''fight the battle of Beuna Vista" over 
again, and let the result settle the matter. 
But this was done rather in a spirit of humor or 
bravado. 

In the History of this county published in 1888 
is the followinsf account: "The row over the 
county seat in 1849 resulted in the murder of 
Colpin Goss by Simon Cockerill, David Finch, 
by Hamp Walters, and in old man Finch stabbing 
Walters at the same time, from the effects of 
which he died some time later. ' ' 

Dr W. C Duval, then a practicing physician 
at Rutledge and an eye witness of the killing of 
Copeland, not Coplin, Goss says it was done in 
a drunken row. and that both ]")arties were west 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 71 

end men. Several parties were drunk and were 
urging Goss onto Cockerill. The Dr. got be- 
tween them and for some time kept them apart, 
but his efforts to make peace between the two 
parties was thwarted by some one catching him 
from behind and pulling him out of the way. 
At the same instant Goss was pushed onto Cock- 
erill, who at once fired his pistol, the ball pass- 
ing through Goss' heart. The Dr. also states 
that the Finch and Walters murders arose from 
a similiar spree. 

The west end of the county contained the 
largest x:)opulation, consequently were able to 
out vote the east end, but in 1857, an act of the 
legislature was procured providing for the loca- 
tion of the county seat within a certain distance 
of the center of the county. 

This left Rutledge out of consideration, and 
Pineville, being the only point available, was 
selected as the permanent county seat. At this 
time the name Mary vill was changed to Pineville. 
The town was located in the northwest quarter 
of section 34, township 22, range 32, J. K. Hosier 
donated seventeen and one-half acres, Henry 
Miller twenty acres, John B. King fifteen acres, 
and A. A. Hensleyten acres. The commission- 
ers who relocated the county seat where, Lyman 
Beeman, Moses Shelton and William McClure. 
They performed this important piece of business, 
the first Monday in January, 1858. 



72 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

The records of their transaction, and all sub- 
sequent conveyances, were destroyed during the 
Civil War, and a suit to establish the title to 
those lands was afterwards instituted in the cir- 
cuit court, and a decree rendered to that effect. 

That the people of the new county seat had 
confidence in its future is evidenced by the price 
of the lots which were sold March 22, 1857. 
William Southward purchased Lot 1, Block 42, 
for $100.25. Thomas H. Howeth purchased 
Lot 1, Block 49 for $101. Willis R. Cox purch- 
ased Lot 3, Block 40 for $100,10. John Carroll 
purchased Lot 3, Block 32 for $100. D. T. Lau- 
derdale and 1. 1. Hackney purchased Lot 4 Block 
42 for $100. Richard Kelley purchased Lot 4, 
Block 32 for $100. Thomas P. Bradley purchased 
Lot 2, Block 23 for $50. Various other lots were 
purchased at the same sale, the lowest price 
being two lots for $45. One-fourth of the money 
was paid in cash. 

About the month of August, 1858, Thomas H. 
Howeth assigned his interest in Lot 1, Block 49 
to W. C. Duval, and in January 1859 J. P. La- 
Mance bought the interest of William South- 
ward to Lot 1, Block 42. Smith Elkins was the 
first County Seat Commissioner for the sale of 
lots. He was succeeded by G. C. Culp. It ap- 
pears that all the lots were sold except the court 
house square and half the jail lot. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 73 

The first buildings erected at this place were 
of logs, John Starns having bnilt the first house 
in what is now the southwest part of town. A 
log house was soon after put up just back of 
where Walter's store now is. It was used for a 
saloon. The old Pineville hotel, which was torn 
down in 1894, was built a few years before the 
war. Among the few Ante-Bellum houses that 
are still standing are: The brick hotel now oc- 
cupied by John Ware. It was then known as 
the Russell House and was operated by Colonel 
Russell; the dwelling now owned by Joseph W. 
Kelley, which was then occupied by Dr. A. W. 
Chenoweth; the residence now owned by J. H. 
Moffett, and the house now owned by Mrs. Brad- 
ley. In 1858 Claudius B. Walker built a two- 
story frame hotel near where the south end of 
Farmer & Son's store now is. This was burnt 
by bushwhackers during the war. 

Among the business men in Pineville prior to 
1861 were J. C. Baber, who located here in 1858. 
From that time to 1891 he was one of the leading 
men of the town and county, J. P. LaMance 
was then a merchant doing business at the north- 
west corner of the square where Noel & Chen- 
oweth 's hardware now is. Samuel Carroll had 
a grocery store on the lots now occupied by J. 
K. Maxfield's building. Samuel K. Cotter was 
doino^ business where Farmer's store now is. 



V4 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

David Payne and John Goodrich were the \avr- 
yers. W. C. Duval and A. W Chenoweth were 
the doctors. 

The first court house was a one- story frame, 
built on the lots now occupied by Bradley's liv- 
ery stable. This was used until the brick court 
house was completed on the site of the present 
one, about the beerinnino: of the war. The old 
court house was on the same plan as the present 
one, but was three stories, the upper one having 
been built by the Free Masons. It is said, how- 
ever, that it was never occupied by them. In 
August or September, 1863 a raid was made on 
the town by a band of bushwhackers and the 
court house, with all the records there, was set 
fire to and burnt. 

A few of the papers and records had been 
carried away by A. A. Hensley, the clerk, but 
the larger portion had been stored away in the 
attic. M. N. LaMance, who witnessed the burn- 
ing, states that he saw the records fall from the 
attic into the fire below. . 

During the war the town suffered to some ex- 
tent from the ravages incident to the conflict, 
but since that time it has built up slowly, but 
gradually and at the present time has a number 
of good residences and substantial brick business 
houses. 

In November, 1872, two-thirds of the taxpay- 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 75 

ers petitioned the county court to incorporate 
the town, which was accordingly done, and K. 
L. Hargrove, J. C. Baber, Z. Smith, J. P. La- 
Mance and Isam Williams were appointed a 
board of trustees. The organization proved in- 
effective and too expensive for so small a place 
and was soon abandoned. It was again incorpo- 
rated in 1895, A. C. Walters, J. H. Moffett, A. 
K. Maxfield, Dr. J. C. Farmer, M. N. LaMance, 
being appointed trustees; A. V. Manning City 
Attorney. The organization is still in force. 

Pineville has not suffered much loss by fire, 
except during the war. However, March 19, 
1879, a fire broke out in Farmer & Chenoweth's 
drug store that destroyed all the business houses 
on the west side of the square north of where 
LaMance 's brick now stands. Besides Farmer 
& Chenoweth's store, Malin's drug store, 
Brown's dry goods store, J. W. Warmack's 
grocery store and the New^s x)rinting office were 
burnt. The origin of the fire is not definitely 
known, but it was supposed to have been the 
work of an incendiary, instigated by a spirit of 
revenge against Dr. Chenoweth on account of 
his persistent fight against the liquor traffic. 

There was no church building at Pineville in 
the earlier days, but the Methodist held services 
in a store building on Main street somew^here in 
the vicinity of the site of the Pineville, or Wilson, 



76 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

hotel. This old building has long since been 
torn down or otherwise destroyed. In 1868, the 
old Methodist church was erected which served 
until 1896, when the present handsome structure 
was erected, and the old one torn down and the 
lumber used in building a neat Parsonage. 

The present Babtist church, which is a neat 
and commodious building, was erected in 1888. 

The lirst public school at this place was es- 
tablished a few years before the war. A frame 
school house was built in the northeast part of 
town near where Julian Lamb or Mrs. Morrison 
now lives. School was held for a while in the 
old frame court house, but whether before or 
after the war I have not been able to ascertain. 
The old brick school house was built sometime 
in the seventies. The present two-story brick 
was erected in 1894, at a cost of $2,500. 

Powell. 

Powell has been a central point for that part 
of the county since the first settlement. A small 
grist mill and a distillery were the first enter- 
prises started, which were operated until about 
1861. Since the war there has been a store 
most of the time. The post office was established 
a few years after the war. G. W. Howard now 
keeps the store, and there are one or two black- 
smith shops. 



history of mcdonald county. 77 

Rocky Comport. 

Rocky Comfort is a nice little town in the 
northeast corner of the county, and has a popu- 
lation of between 200 and 300 people. It can 
boast of as fine a set of citizens as can be found 
in the great Southwest. " They have a handsome 
school house, good churches, and almost all 
branches of business are represented. It is lo- 
cated in the heart of a rich agricultural country 
which is settled by a thrifty class of people. 

The first part of the name was given from the 
ground being originally covered with rocks on 
the hill sides, while the beautiful valley with 
the spring of cold water suggested the name of 
Comfort. The euphony of the name can not be 
fully realized until one has seen the place and 
beeji an eye witness to its approxDriateness. 
There were a few families at this place as early 
as 1850, and a few houses are still standing that 
were built before the war. The j)Ost office was 
established in 1865 or 1866. Before that time 
the people got their mail at Hazle Bottom in 
Barry county, where a post office was established 
about 1845. 

RUTLEDGE. 

The first county seat of McDonald county was 
at Rutledge on Elk River just below the mouth 



78 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

of Indian creek. It bears the distinction of 
having beaten Pineville for the county seat in 
three seperate election. The town dates back 
to 1849. Dr. Duval located at this place when 
he first came to the county. Pearson kept a 
hotel. Wear & Farmer w^ere merchants in the 
early day, afterwards selling to J. P. LaMance. 
Richard Kelley kept a saloon. There were, 
perhaps, many good people in the vicinity, but, 
"The evil that men do live after them," so it 
seems to be with this little town. It was here 
that a drunken mob pushed Copelr.nd Goss onto 
Simon Cocke fill, causing him to be shot through 
the heart. Here Hamp Walters killed Daniel 
Pinch by stabbing him from the rear with a 
long, murderous bowie knife. It is related 
that one night A A. Hensley, Adam Hos- 
ier and others, while on a sjDree, threw down 
the old log court house. The removal of the 
county seat left nothing of the town but the 
name. Since the building of the railroad a 
switch has been placed there and one or two 
small stores have been in operation most of the 
time. The place is now called Madge. 

Saratoga Springs. 

In one of the abrupt hollows, or brakes, that 
make down from the level lands near the edge 
of Cow Skin Prairie, in Prairie township, is one 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 79 

of the finest springs of water in this famous 
country of springs. It flows boldly from the 
side of the bluff some thirty or forty feet above 
the bottom of the hill in a stream sorae three or 
four inches in diameter. At the top of the hill, 
some two hundred yards away, on a nice, level 
tract of land, part timber and part prairie, was 
laid out the town of Saratoga Springs. The 
original town was surveyed in October, 1880, for 
Bullock, Wisdom & Cox. Bullock & Wisdom's 
first addition, Bullock & Whitney's second ad- 
dition, and Colvin & Baker's addition were all 
laid out in November, 1881. 

This was one of the Medical Springs towns 
and for a year or two promised to be a place of 
some importance. It had the prettiest location 
and most abundant water supply of all the med- 
ical towns. Several good business houses and 
many neat dv/ellings were erected. A good 
school was maintained, and a newspaper flour- 
ished in its palmiest days. But the pride of her 
glory has long since departed ; the bloom of her 
beauty faded slovv^ly aw^ay, and there is now only 
a few families, a post office and a couple of small 
stores remaining of the once ]3romising little city. 

Silver Springs. 

William and Arzelia C. Harness conceived 
an idea that an immense fortune was flowing 



80 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

away through the waters of a spring on section 6, 
township 22, range 29, and, in anticipation of 
the vast treasures of the white metal they ex- 
pected to gather from the adventure, in August 
1881, had the town of Silver Springs surveyed. 
But the seasons came and went. William 's beard 
grew grizzled, and the cheel^s of the fair Arzela 
lost the pink tint of youth, but adversity flapped 
her wings over the enterprise, and their bright 
dreams of stocking legs filled with the shining 
metal vanished for aye — and the water still 
trickles through the gravel as of yore. 

SiMCOE. 

This is a post office and country store on the 

line between Elk Horn and Richwood townships 

about half way between Bethpage and Rocky 

Comfort. A co-operative store was run here 

for a while but eventually passed into the 

hands of private persons. The neighboring 

farmers who had banked their savings in the 

enterprise, for a while basked in the sunlight of 

their day-visions when they were to be bloated 

bondholders and sport gold-headed canes. But 

the weird soughing of the wind through the bare 

shelves and the rattle of mice in the empty su- 
gar barrels awoke them from their bright dreams, 
and a melancholy search was made in the recess- 
es of their jeans for about $2000 to settle the lia- 
bilities. 



history of mcdonald county. 81 

Splitlog and The Rail, Road. 

McDonald county is not wholly devoid of fi- 
nancial enterprises and the town of Splitlog 
was the product of a scheme that at the time 
produced great excitement in our usually quiet 
community. 

About 1880 Dr. Benna, an old California pros- 
pector, entered forty acres of land and began 
prospecting for gold and silver. He was with- 
out means, consequently his work progressed 
slowly. The Dr. in some respects, was a pecu- 
liar individual and there is little doubt that he 
honestly believed there were bodies of the pre- 
cious metals, could he only find them. He con- 
tinued his work as best he could for upwards of 
five years. In the summer of 1886 he succeeded 
in getting M. W. Clay of Newton county and 
Smith Nichols of Seneca, interested in the proj- 
ect and they took leases and at once began pros- 
pecting. They were apparently more successful 
than the doctor had been, for they soon took 
out dirt that on being sent to Chicago made a 
very encouraging assay. Nichols soon disj)osed 
of his interest and Mathias Splitlog a very 
wealthy Indian was induced to take hold of the 
enterprise. He put down a number of shafts, 
built a fine hotel and two or three business houses. 
The assays continued to be favorable and the 



82 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

excitement spread, The Neosho Silver Mining" 
Company, The Philadelphia Company, and the 
St Louis Company took leases or purchased 
lands. It is claimed that the Philadelphia com- 
pany paid i^l5,000 for the south half section 9, 
township 23, range 33, a particularly barren and 
worthless tract of land. 

Confident of ultimate success, and that the city 
which bore his name would soon be the center 
of a rich mining district, Splitlog conceived the 
idea of building a railroad to his mines. A com- 
pany was formed, a charter procured and the road 
built and equipped from Joplin to Splitlog, the 
old Indian furnishing most of the money. In the 
mean time he had sold a tract of land near Wy- 
andott, Kansas, for $170, 000, and most of this he 
had invested in his ''great project. " 

By this time it had been fully demonstrated 
that the mines were worthless; the rich quartz 
was just common McDonald county rock, and a 
poor quality at that. Splitlog 's bank account 
was about non est and the great balloon instead 
of busting all at once had received a puncture 
and was dying with a gradual "squizzle." 

But there was too much money invested in the 
rail road to let it be abandoned. Eastern men 
were induced to take hold of it, and work was 
begun to extend it both north and south. For 
a while it was under the management of H W. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 83 

Bush, afterwards of John B. Stevenson. The 
route was changed and Splitlog left a couple of 
miles off the road. Finally the K. C. P. & G. 
Co. bought it, and for some years it has been in 
operation from Kansas City to Siloam Springs, 
Arkansas. Last year it was pushed on through 
a portion of the Indian Territory, and is now 
completed to Pout Arthur, on the Gulf of Mex- 
ico. The little road begun by Mathias Splitlog 
has grown to be one of the most important north 
and south roads in the United States. He died 
at his home in the Indian Territory, about two 
miles below Tiff City, in January, 1897. A post 
office and small store, with a few families is all 
there is left of this once promising town. 

Mention of this place was overlooked in writ- 
ing up Buffalo township. 

Southwest City. 

This is the largest and most important town 
in McDonald county, and contains many substan- 
tial business houses, neat and handsome dwell- 
ings, and has a population of some 1,200 people. 
It is located near the southwest corner of the 
state, the name being derived from the location. 
After talking with a number of the old citizens 
of that place and looking over the situation I 
have concluded that the following account tak- 
en from the history of this county published in 



84 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

1888 is as correct as it is possible to get: 

"The town now known as Southwest City is 
admirably located on the border of the Indian 
Territory, and within 6600 feet of the corner 
stone of Arkansas, Missouri and the Indian 
country. Within the town, and about it on the 
north, west and east, crystal springs pour from 
the hill-sides, while Honey Creek, which runs 
through the center, is itself a spring stream. 
North is the celebrated Cow Skin Prairie and 
the great fields of the Cherokees. Westward is 
the Indian paradise, and south and southwest 
is the great pine and hard wood region of the 
Grand Neosho. Within the last few years social 
conditions have entirely changed so that now the 
cattlemen enter town in peace and leave in peace. 
Even the Indians have realized the change, and 
conform to it with ease and dignity, giving to 
the new city some of the old sweetness of the 
former settlement of Honey Creek. 

"J. P. LaMance and Burton McGhee were the 
first settlers of Southwest City in 1842. In the 
spring of 1843, Mr. Lamance and his wife moved 
one-half mile out to Case's Spring, and took 
posession of one of Case's log huts; thence in 
March, 1843, to the site of what is now Saratoga 
Springs, where he resided until 1845, when he 
was appointed government school teacher in the 
Nation. Burton McGhee opened a tavern there 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 85 

1842. Adam Cole settled three-fourths of a mil e 
south of McGhee's three or four years later. 
Case was a horse-trader, who came here to trade 
with the Indians and found the cabins above 
named. In one of these cabins Jennie LaMance, 
-who died in her sixteenth year, was born. In 
1846 Burton McGhee established his trading 
house or general store here, and for ten years 
after that date carried on a large business. In 
1856 he sold his stock of goods to J. P. LaMance 
and returned to his farm on Cow Skin Prairie, 
where he died. 

A part of the McGhee property was sold by 
the administrator of the estate to J. C. Lamson 
after the close of the war. In 1870 Mr. Lamson 
had a town site surveyed here under the name 
of Southwest City. The LaMance store was con- 
tinued here until the close of 1861. In 1866 a 
house was built by Alex Struthers north of what 
is now the Corum House, and in this building 
LaMance and Struthers continued business until 
1869, when J. Struthers purchased their respect- 
ive interests. The Barton store was established 
in 1871. In 1870, when Col. Shields built his 
hotel, now the Corum House, John and Alex 
Struthers' store stood where the Struther's 
dwelling stood before the fire of 1877. South 
was Pollard's blacksmith shop, the same which 
Barton fitted for a store-room. About this time 



86 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

the tobacco warehouse of Col. Bondurst on Wet 
Prairie was confiscated, and much of the lumber 
brought to the new city and partly used in build- 
ing the houses just south of the Smith & Sea- 
bourn brick block. Hugh Blair lived in a cab- 
in 100 yards west of the same block. A black- 
smith shopi stood fifty yards north of Honey 
creek, on the west side of the road." 

The first school taught here was by Lee Smith, 
about 1869 or 1870. It was in a small frame 
building, lined with brick, which stood a few 
yards southeast of where Mrs. Fannie Preston's 
residence now is. The old two-story frame school 
house w^as built about 1885. The present, a 
handsome two-story brick with six rooms was 
built in 1896, at a cost of $5,000. 

The Methodist, Baptist, Christians and Pres- 
byterians all have neat churches. 

During its nearly thirty years existence this 
little city has had many exciting scenes, the two 
most noted of which are the fire which occured 
Sunday, January 10, 1892, and the bank robbery , 
which took place May 10, 1894. They are graph- 
ically described in the Enterprise of January 
16, 1892, and May 11, 1894 respectively as follows: 

' 'On Sunday morning last at about 4 :30 o'clock 
a loud explosion, which shook the very earth 
and made the windows and shutters rattle in ev- 
ery home in Southwest City and which awakened 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 87 

our citizens, was but the prelude to the cry of 
FIRE, FIRE, which resounded through our streets, 
accompanied by the furious ringing of bells and 
the cries of people as they frantically rushed 
from their homes to the scene. 

When first discovered smoke was seen issuing 
from the Masonic Temple over Smith & Sea- 
bourn's hardware store, and the light from the 
flames could be plainly seen playing against 
the curtained windows. 

Mr. Turner, a photographer, who sleeps in 
his tent-gallery opposite the hardware store on 
the other side of the street, was awakened by 
the violent concussion of the shock and a shower 
of plate glass and other broken matter, against 
his tent. In less than a half minute he was in 
the hardware building with a bucket of water 
he had snatched up. The whole front was blown 
out which accounted for the previous shower of 
glass, which awakened him. A place was burn- 
ing in the back part of the building, apparently 
half-way across the room between two joists, 
and the lamp which was suspended had fallen 
to the floor and broken and the oil was burning, 
which he promptly put out. But fire was drop- 
ing from the ceiling all around and he hurried 
back to replenish his bucket with water. By 
the time he got back with the water quite a num- 
ber had congregated, and the fire by this time 



88 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

was bursting from the windows up stairs and 
the fire in the interior of the hardware was 
dropping down steadily, but hesitated when the 
other explosion occurred — one, two, three times. 
' 'In the mean time Mr. Mastin, who works in 
the back part of the room in the harnes-making 
department, arrived at the back door which was 
open. He was engaged in trying to get down 
some harness to carry out when another explo- 
sion occurred and he quit precipitately. The 
fire was then nearly all in front of the hardware 
and was spreading through the archway which 
connects the general merchandise room and is 
at the back of the entrance of Smith Bros, drug 
store which was located between the two stores. 
In ten minutes the whole building was in flames 
up and down stairs and it was with difficulty 
that parties having offices in the second story 
of the adjoining building north reached them 
and saved a few effects, for the smoke was stif- 
ling. In about half an hour three adjoining 
bricks were in flames and the flames were still 
spreading. From this block of bricks the fire, 
which was intensely hot, spread to Dumont's 
grocery and Dr. Frank Smith's ofiice. The fire 
on the north jumped the side street across to 
the Gorton building, a frame, which contained 
Murph Harmon, s saloon, and all heroic meas- 
ures failed to keep it from going; awnings were 



HISTOKY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



89 



torn away from before the saloon and Sanders 
& Morrison's store on the north and a line of 
bucket men stood on the roof of Sanders & Mor- 
rison's fire wall, which is a hollow one, and to- 
gether with a free use of salt the building was 
saved, although badly damaged. 

' 'Dr. Frank Smith's office was the last building 
on the southern limits of the burned district to 
go with the rest. It was a small one-story frame 
and was partly torn down by the force of men 
on this side. A line of men with buckets and 
wet blankets, re-inforced by plenty of water, 
kept watch and fought valirntly from the firewall 
of Mrs. Dustin's drug store, which is also a blind 
wall, and the fire was finally got under full con- 
trol. But forces of workers were busy on the 
front of the Corum House, oppsite the scene of 
the fire and wet blankets and water did their 
work well. The front of John Struthers' store 
on the same side of the street as the Corum House, 
was subjected to like treatment. 

"In the mean time the large frame implement 
ware-house of Smith & Seabourn's at the back 
of the block could not be saved, and out-buildings 
galore were wiped up in the immediate vicinity, 
among which was Mrs, Dustin's barn and con- 
tents, D. E. Havens' ware house, and only by 
the best of work was Mrs. Dustin's residence 
saved. 



90 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

AMONG THE LOSERS. 

Dr. Prank Smith lost $60, probably in books, 
instruments, etc. 

Doty & Lee, proprietors of the The Enterprise, 
lost everything exceptibooks. They hold their 
loss at $600. 

Mrs. Dustin had her stable and contents de- 
stroyed and barely saved her residence. Per- 
sonal loss $100. 

The Dr. B. F. Smith, Sr., estate lost in two 
frame and one brick buildings burned, probably 
over $3,500. 

Combs Bros, paint shop, brushes, oils, paints, 
&c., were entirely consumed by the fire. Loss 
about $25. 

The Masonic fraternity lost everything, which 
they valued at $200, having recently re-fitted 
and re-furnished their rooms. No insurance. 

C. U. DuMont's grocery lost about $200, prin- 
cipally contents of his ware room. However he 
retreated in very good shape considering. No 
insurance on stock. 

■ In the G. A. R. Hall over D E. Haven's store, 
the belongings of that order, also of the S. of V. 
and W. R. C. were almost a complete loss. The 
first lost goods valued at $125; S. of V., at $10; 
W. R. C, $25. 

D. E. Havens who occupied the Dr. Smith 
brick saved everything but the contents of a ware- 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 91 

house on back, which contained oil and bulk 
o-oods He places his loss at about $200, a 
^reat share of which he attributes to persons of 

pilfering habits. 

Drs. Quarles & Christian's offices and con- 
tents were almost a complete loss. Dr. Quarles, 
however, saved a couple armloads of books from 
his fine library. The loss to him and his ofSce 
associate is nearly «1,200. Books, instruments 
and all went, except what they had at 
their homes on the night in question. 

Smith Bros. , druggists, lost their entire stock, 
but they were insured to the amount of|l,000 
on stock. Books, papers and cash taken from 
safe after the fire were uninjured. W. F. Smith, 
the Junior member, lost the Gorton building 
valued at $400, in which Murph Harmon con- 
ducted his saloon. Mr. Harmon is out about 
$250 principally in bar fixtures, a great part of 
his liquor stock being saved. What was saved 
of his bar fixtures were so badly damaged as to 
render them almost worthless. 

Smith & Seabourn are the heaviest losers by 
the fire, their loss being estimated at $20,000. 
Their brick block comprised four large, hand- 
some business rooms; overhead were the Enter- 
prise office, Drs. Quarles & Christian's office, 
Opera house and Masonic hall. Their hardware 
stock was a total loss, except implements and 



92 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

wagons, etc. , which were stored in their ware- 
house, a part of which were saved. About $3- 
000 worth of general merchandise and $1,000 
worth of implements were got beyond the reach 
of the flames. Papers and safe contents taken 
out. No insurance. 

Bank Robbery. 

"About 3,30 o'clock yesterday afternoon seven 
well armed men rode into town from the south 
and dismounted in the street, just back of the 
post office, and tied their horses. Three of them 
made their way immediately to the bank while 
the other four took positions, two in the pool 
hall just north and across the street from the 
post office, while the other two stood in Dr. 
Nichol's yard. The first words heard from them 
was an order for every body to hunt holes, 
accompanied by an oath. To give their language 
more force, they began firing their Winchesters, 
and kept up a f uscilade. The men proceeded to 
the bank and covered Mr. Ault, the owner of the 
bank, and Mr. Snyder, an assistant with revol- 
vers. Two of the men immediately crawled 
through the cashier's window, while the third 
held revolvers on Mr. Ault and Mr. Snyder. 

After relieving the vault and the cashier's 
drawer of the money, they deposited it in a sack, 
and made for their horses, keeping up a con- 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



93 



stant firing at every one who dared to show his 
head. While the three men were in the bank, 
the four men on the outside were doing deadly 
execution with their Winchesters. 

Ex-State Senator Seabourn and brother Oscar 
were in front of Mrs. Dustin's hardware store 
when the shooting began, and as they started 
for the store door two shots fired simultaneously 
struck them, and singularly, in very nearly the 
same place, just above the right hip joint in close 
proximity to the lower abdomen. The ball that 
hit J. C. passed through, while the ball that hit 
Oscar had lodged, and at this writing has not 
been located. M. V. Hembree, who was in 
W. L. Barker's saloon, received a ball in the 
ankle almost severing his leg, and will probably 
have to be amputated. By this time men had 
secured guns aud returned the fire, and the rob- 
bers made retreat as fast as possible. As they 
passed the street to Broadway and turned south, 
they encountered Simpson Melton, Deputy U. 
S. Marshal and fired three shots at him, one 
taking effect in the right leg, making a flesh 
wound. Melton returned the fire, hitting one 
of their horses which had to be abonded in the 
south part of town. 

About 100 shots were fired on Main street, 
and sounded like war times, and many citizens 
had very close calls from the robber's guns. 



94 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

They rode good horses and the men were under 
middle age, and it is reported that one of the 
men was recognized as one of the parties who 
was arrested on suspicion as being connected 
with the Bentonville robbery a few months ago. 
Mr. Ault, of the bank, informs us that the rob- 
bers secured in the neighborhood of $3,700. For- 
tunately for Mr. Ault, his insurance covers 
nearly, if not all the loss. After securing the 
money Mr. Ault and Mr. Snyder were marched 
vAth the robbers to their horses, and then or- 
dered to find holes and be quick about it. 

The robbers met a warm reception as they 
turned south on Broadway, as several parties, 
including City Marshal, Carlyle, D. E. Havens, 
G. W. Smith, E. W, Eslinger and S. Melton 
were there with their guns, and were not afraid 
to use them. It is supposed that one of their 
horses was shot at that time by S. Melton, and 
another one was shot by J. D. Powell, who put 
in some good work as they passed his house. 
Charles Franks and Dick Prater also gave them 
a dose as they passed the Baptist church. 

It is pretty well known that two of the rob- 
bers were wounded as they stopped several teams 
going into town and secured horses, and their 
wounds were plainly seen. One is shot near 
the eye and the other in the back or hip, as in 
changing horses he was not able to handle him- 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 95 

self. They took a horse from Shade Johnson, 
and one from a man by the name of Vaughn 
and another from Dave Smith, but afterward 
turned it loose as it could not travel fast enough. " 

J. C. Seabourn died of his wound a few days 
later, but his brother Oscar eventually recov- 
ered. Hembry's foot was taken off above the 
ankle. 

The robbers went in a southwesterly direction 
and track of them was finally lost some distance 
below Grand river. That night they stopped 
for supper some twelve or fourteen miles below 
Southwest, where they dressed their wounds. 
The lady who got their supper stated that six 
of the seven were wounded. Various parties 
were suspected and three arrests were made. 
Dr. Wynn and a man named Sparks were the 
first two. After investigating the matter, 
Sparks was discharged, but Wynn was placed 
in jail until the next term of court. The grand 
jury failed to find a bill and he was released. 
James Condry was indicted, but the case was 
nollied, there being no evidence against him. 

In the course of time it was demonstrated to 
the satisfaction of most of the people of the 
town that the raid had been made by Bill Doolin 
and his gang. One of them died of a wound 
received in this robbery, five were afterwards 
killed, and the other one is now serving a term 



96 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

in the penitentiary for some crime of a similar 
kind. 

Twin Springs. 

In the year 1880-1 there was quite a mania 
for Medical Springs towns over the Southwest 
and McDonald county came in for its share. In 
September 1881 J. P. Madden had a town platted 
on Lot 2 of the northwest quarter of section 19, 
township 22, range 32. Quite a number of peo- 
ple settled there and a promising little village 
was started. The water is very fine and the 
principal spring flows in a large stream from 
the side of the hill in quantities sufficient to sup- 
ply a large town. But water, alone, will not 
support a town and after an unsuccessful strug- 
gle of several years the last business enterprise 
was abandonded. 

At the June term of the county court, 1895, the 
owner of the land by J. A. Sturges, his attorney, 
appeared and procured an order vacating the 
public square, park, streets and alleys of the 
to wn and thus Medical Twin Springs was no 
more. 
, White rock Sulphur Springs. 

This little village derives its name from a 
large White Sulphur spring which furnishes an 
abundance of fine water which contains healing 
properties. 

It was laid out in 1882 and at present contains 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 97 

three or four business houses all of which enjoy a 
fair trade. It is rather a pretty place and is 
surrounded by the most picturesque scenery to 
be found in the county. 

Bethpage. 

This is the name of a country store and post 
office in Elk Horn township that was established 
some time after the war. For the past several 
years W. W. Chase and Woolard Brothers have 
kept stores here. 

A few years ago a small mill was in operation 
but it was afterwards converted into a distillery, 
which is in operation at the present time. 



98 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



CHAPTER VII. 



Criminal sketches. 



The Chenoweth Murder. 

On the night of September 12, 1883, Dr. A. 
W. Chenoweth was shot from ambush just at 
the brow of the hill on the Neosho road at the 
north edge of Pineville. The doctor lived about 
a quarter of a mile from town, and some time 
after dark got in his buggy and started home. 
When he reached the point above stated two 
reports from a shot gun in quick succession rang 
out on the night air and the doctor fell from his 
buggy, riddled with buckshot. The team went 
on home and stopped at the barn. 

This, with the reports of the gun, alarmed 
the family, and his son. Cur tie, ran down the 
road to see what had occured. Coming upon 
the dead body of his father in the road he uttered 
a scream of terror and grief that w:is heard 
throughout the little town, and soon the entire 
population had gathered at the scene of the 
tragedy. Intense excitement prevailed. One 
of the most useful, prominent and beloved mem- 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 99 

bers of the community had fallen a victim to the 
cowardly assassin, and the threats and impre- 
cations of a justly indignant people were ming- 
led with the cries of grief from the terrified and 
almost heart broken wife and children. 

The doctor, for years, had been a leading ad- 
vocate of temx3erance and a bitter opponent to 
the illicit traffic in liquor. His antagonism to 
blind tigers and saloons had incurred the ill will 
of some of its advocates. This feeling was, 
also, very likely indulged in by a few of his 
political and personal enemies. Garland A. Mann 
for several years had been his open and avowed 
enemy, and had time and again threatened his 
life. Mann had kept a saloon in Pineville at 
different times and had j)robably sold liquor 
without license. It was through transactions 
connected with the saloon and liquor business 
that the enmity between the two men was first 
engendered. Besides, Chenoweth was a member 
of the Pension Board of Examiners and Mann 
was an applicant for a pension. He claimed 
that the doctor used his influence to defeat his 
claim. As time passed on the animosity grew 
stronger. Mann brooded over his ills, whether 
real or supposed, until he imagined every trans- 
action of his life that turned out adverse was 
caused by the connivance of his enemy. This 
state of mind had so wrought upon Mann, and 



100 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

his threats had became so frequent and bitter 
that the doctor's friends often warned him of 
his danger, and when the crime was perpetrated 
suspicion at once rested on Mann and he was 
arrested the next day. 

The trial which ensued was the most noted 
that has ever originated in this county. A change 
of venue was granted to Newton county. The 
defendant owned a farm on the river, besides 
some other property which he gave to his law- , 
yers for his defense. Eminent legal talent was 
employed on both sides. Each side had friends 
of influence and the fight was long and bitter. 
Onei3arty was fighting for the life of the defend- 
ant, the other contending that the vengeance of 
the law might be invoked on the murder of their 
friend. He was first tried in April, 1884, the 
trial lasting until May 5, when the jury, unable 
to agree, was discharged. He was again tried 
in August, convicted of murder in the first de- 
gree and sentenced to be hung. The case was 
reversed in the supreme'court and remanded for 
re-trial. The trial was again begun in May, 
1885. This resulted in a mistrial the jury being 
unable to agree. The fourth trial was begun 
August 3, 1885 but on Aug. 6, Mann was killed 
in jail by a mob, and thus the noted and expen- 
sive trial was terminated. About 1. o'clock that 
night a mob, variously estimated at from 100 to 



□ 'HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 101 

150 men surrounded the jail at Neosho where 
Mann was confined. A deputation of ten or 
twelve went in and demanded the keys of Sam 
Cotter, one of the guards, and then of Johnson. 
They denied having the keys. The door of the 
jail was then burst in and the door of the cell 
hattered down. Mann was of course unarmed, 
hut it is said that he fought like a savage beast 
at bay- But the avengers of his victim's blood 
were at hand and a few pistol shots were fired, 
then two discharges from a shot gun and the 
last act in the great tragedy was over. On ex- 
amination, the doctors found six wounds any one 
of which would have been fatal. 

As to the guilt of Mann, we have never heard 
even his friends express a doubt. One of the 
attorneys in the case told the writer that one 
time Mann prepared a confession of the crime, 
but it was destroyed by one of his attorneys, 
who insisted that an acquittal would eventually 
be secured. No one was ever arrested for the 
killing of Mann, although an effort was made to 
discover the parties who constituted the possee. 
This protracted trial cost over $10,000, and bad 
blood was engendered which lasted for several 
years, though no serious trouble ever grew out 

of it. 

In October, 1884. A. M. Dillin, of Pineville 
was arrested as an accessory to the killing of 



102 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

Chenoweth, but was tried and acquitted by a jury 
of his own county, there being no substantial 
evidence asrainst him. 



"to' 



The Jim Wisdom Case. 

One night in December, 1883 there was a dance 
at a house on the river a few miles above Sara- 
toga. Among others in attendance were James 
M. Wisdom, then post master at Saratoga, and 
William Judy, a young man less than twenty 
years of age. Wisdom was also deputy Sheriff, 
and claimed he went to the dance for the pur- 
pose of arresting a couple of parties for whom 
he had a warrant. T^he evidence adduced at the 
trial of Wisdom proved that when the dance 
broke up Wisdom flourished his pistol, abused 
Judy and swore he would kill him. He wanted 
to ride on Judy's horse, and the boy insisted on 
Wisdom taking the horse while he would walk. 
Wisdom, however, compelled the boy to get on 
and ride up to a stump and let him get on be- 
hind all the time flourishing his pistol and swear- 
ing he would kill him. The two rode off in front 
of the rest of the party Wisdom hold of the bri- 
dle reins and still cursing and using his threats. 
When they reached the forks of the road where 
the Saratoga road turns up the hill a short 
distance below where A. J. Avery now lives, 



HISTORY OP MCDONALD COUNTY. 103 

the other following on down the river bottom, 
Wisdom rode a few yards down the river bottom 
road, shot Judy through the body, threw him off 
the horse, then turned across to the Saratoga 
road and went home on the poor boy's horse. 
Parties who were behind on foot came up a few 
moments later and found the body lying dead by 
the road side. Wisdom who was undoubtedly 
drunk claimed the next morning that he knew 
nothing about it. 

These were squally times in McDonald county. 
Austin had killed Hearrell in January 1882. At 
the February term of court Madison Evans was 
acqitted of the murder of Sherill Brooks, whom 
many of the neighbors say he had called out 
one morning and shot down in cold blood. The 
following September Dr. A. W. Chenoweth was 
shot from ambush while returning to his home 
near Pineville. These crimes and the acquittal 
of so many defendants exasperated the people 
and they determined to take the law in their own 
hands. Wisdom, Garland A. Mann, and other 
prisoners, who were kept in the Carthage jail, 
when brought to Pineville for trial had to be 
heavily guarded, and on different nights were 
secretely taken out in the woods and concealed 
until morning. The prisoners and their guards 
endared much inconvenience and suffering from 
the cold and exposure, but at that time avoided 



i\ 

104 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

mob violence. 

Wisdom was tried at the April term 1884 of 
our circuit court, and found guilty of murder in 
the first degree. The judgment was affirmed 
on appeal to the supreme court, but the gov- 
ernor of the state commuted his sentence to a 
life term in the state pennitentiary. During 
his confinement he was sick nearly all of the 
time, and after a few years he was pardoned 
and sent home to die with his family and friends, 
the prison physicians giving an opinion 'that he 
was in the last stages of consumption and could 
live but a few weeks. He, however, soon regained 
his health and at last reports was still alive and 
prosperous. 

The Hearrell Murder. 

About sundown, January 20, 1882, B. P. Aus- 
tin shot and killed E. J. Hearrell, at the resi- 
dence of W. C. Price on Buffalo creek. There 
had been some dealings, also some trouble be- 
tween the parties previous to the killing, but 
nothing of so serious a nature was apprehended. 

The Price residence consisted of a double log 
house with a porch between the two rooms. 
Price with his family at that time occupied the 
east room while Austin, his son-in-law, lived 
in the west room, the house however, stands 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 105 

diagonally fronting southeast. Austin kept a 
blacksmith shop some sixty yards north of the 

house. 

On the afternoon of the killing, the writer was 
at the shop and Austin stated to him that he ex- 
pected Hearrell to sue him on an account and in 
case he did so wanted his services as attorney 
to defend the case. About one hour after this 
conversation took place the killing occurred. 
Herrall came to the shop and a dispute arose 
concerning the account. W. C. Price, Jr., then a 
little boy, was the only one present. He states 
that Hearrell threatened Austin's life, unless 
the balance he claimed was paid. The three got 
over the fence together, a high, staked and rid- 
ered rail fence, between the lot and house yard, 
and started towards the house. Old Mr. Price 
was sitting in his room with his back towards 
the porch door when his son, little Billie bolted 
in and in a very excited manner exclaimed "Pa, 
come quick, Mr. Hearrell is going to kill Ben," 
The old gentleman replied, "Why, I reckon not" 
and started to rise from his chair. Just then a 
shot was fired, and when Mr. Price reached the 
door Hearrell was in the act of falling. Austin 
being yonng and active, had run from where 
they crossed the fence to the house, sixty yards, 
some distance in advance of Hearrell who was 
getting old, On reaching the house Austin ran 



106 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

into his room, caught down his rifle and, taking 
rest on the side of the door, fired the fatal shot. 
The bullet entered the neck just above the collar 
bone and severed the main artery. The distance 
between the two at the time the shot was fired 
was about thirty feet. Deceased was a large, 
powerful man and would no doubt have severely 
beaten Austin, had he overtaken him, but he 
was wholly unarmed. 

The case created great excitement in that 
vicinity and Austin was severely condemned by 
the public. But at the following August term 
of court he was acquitted on the grounds of self 
defence. 

Several years later, 1894, Austin was shot and 
killed in the Indian Territory, by an Indian 
named Tom Crawford. Cr a wf ord was convicted 
of manslaughter in the United States court at 
Port Scott, Kansas, and served a short term in 
the penitentiary. 

The Murder Of Lula Noel. 

One of the most appaling crimes ever com- 
mitted in McDonald county was the murder of 
Mary LulaNoel daughter of W. H. and S. E. Noel 
on the 10 day of December, 1892. She was young, 
extremely handsome and her lady like manners 
made her a favorite with all who knew her. On 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 107 

the Wednesday preceding, William Simmons, 
a young man who lived at Joplin, came down to 
visit her. She was staying with her sister, Mrs. 
Sydney Holly, who then lived on the old Mann 
farm. He remained there until Saturday. On 
Friday evening arrangements were made to the 
effect that next morning Holly's folks were to 
go over to W. H. Noel's and the two families 
were to go together to the town of Noel. Holly 
and his wife were to visit over night at the home 
of a relative on Mill creek. Simmons was asked 
to go with them but declined, saying he would 
walk over to Lanagan and take the freight train 
to Joplin. Miss Noel said she would remain 
with Will (Simmons) until he went away and 
then go across the river to her father's if the 
water was not too high, otherwise she would 
remain on that side with some of the relatives 
who were quite numerous. The river was then 
past fording for vehicles, but was being crossed 
on horse back. About 8 o'clock in the morning 
Holly and his wife started away leaving Sim- 
mons and Miss Noel together at their house. 
This was the last ever seen of her alive. In- 
stead of returning home on Sunday, Holly and 
his wife remained at her father's the next few 
days. Lula had not come home, but no great 
uneasiness was felt as she was supposed to be 
at some of the relatives across the river. On 



108 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

Monday and Tuesday inquiry was made when 
it was ascertained she was not in the neighbor- 
hood. A letter was at once dispatched to an 
uncle at Webb City, with whom she made her 
home part of the time, and it was thought prob- 
able she had gone there. When the answer 
came back that she was not there, the anxiety 
of her parents and family that had been growing 
deeper all of the time suddenly increased to a 
frenzy of excitement. Their beautif al daughter 
and sister was gone, lost; no one knew where, 
and only those who have experienced the feeling 
can realize the agony which clung to them day 
and night. 

Her father and Mr. Holly went to Joplin on 
Friday to see what tidings they could gain. At 
the trial Holly swore that he saw Simmons 
and said to him ''Will, your girl's gone. " Sim- 
mons trembled violently a few seconds and re- 
plied. ''Is that so?" He asked no questions 
concerning her and appeared to be desirous of 
avoiding the conversation. When asked if she 
came away with him, he replied that she did 
not. They stood in silence a few moments when 
Simmons remarked, "You don't suppose the fool 
girl jumped in the river and drowed herself, do 
you?" They returned home that night and the 
next day, Saturday December 17, just one week 
from the day she was last seen, a systematic 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 109 

search was begun. The whole conntry was 
arroused and hundreds of people joined to aid in 
finding the body, for it was now the universal 
opinion that she had been killed. The hills from 
the Holly house towards Lanagan were gone 
through for a while in the early morning then 
the crowd repaired to the river. The deep 
holes were dragged, giant powder exploded and 
every spot examined for some distance up and 
down the stream. Finally about 2 o'clock in 
the afternoon, in a narrow, swift place in the 
river at the lower end of a large, deep hole of 
water, the body was found where some of the 
clothing had caught in a willow that projected 
into the water. It was but little more than a 
quarter of a mile below her father's house and 
within a few feet of the road along which her 
parents had passed that fatal Saturday after- 
noon unconscious of the great tragedy that had 
been enacted. On examination afterwards con 
elusive evidences of a violent death were found. 
A bruise on one temple, one spot on one cheek 
and three or four on the other, as though a 
hand had been placed over her mouth to stiffle 
her screams, finger prints on the throat, were 
all plainly visible. Besides a bruise the size of 
the palm of one's hand on the back of the head 
and her neck broken. The lungs were perfectly 
dry and all evidences of drowning were absent. 



110 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

The evidence was wholly circumstantial put poin- 
ted very strongly to the gailtofthe defendant. 

There were tracks of a man and woman cor- 
responding in size and shape with Simmons and 
Miss Noel's found leading from the Holly house 
across the field to near the river bank at the 
upper end of the big hole of water above men- 
tioned. At the lower end was a ford, and it is 
the supposition that the two walked down to the 
river, she intending to wait at the ford and call 
to her parents as they passed on their way home 
to take out a horse from the wagon and assist 
her across. 

The finding of her body naturally increased 
the excitement. A warrant was at once issued 
for Simmons and he was apprehended in Joplin 
just as he was preparing to leave. Had he been 
brought to Pineville at that time it is likely he 
would have been summarily dealt with, but he 
waived examination and remained in the jail at 
Neosho. At the February term of our court 
1893 an indictment was returned against him for 
murder in the first degree. A change of venue 
was granted to Newton county and the case tried 
at the following May term. Some seventy wit- 
nesses were examined and the case was hotly 
contested by both sides. The jury were unable 
to agree and were finally discharged. The trial 
again came on at the following November term. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. Ill 

At this trial the attorneys for the state took the 
position that there was a probability or, at least, 
a possibility that the killing was done on a sud- 
den impulse and without deliberation and asked 
for and was granted an instruction for murder 
in the second degree as well as in the first degree. 
The jury returned a verdict for murder in the 
second degree and assessed the punishment at 
ten years in the penitentiary. Thus ended an- 
other of the most noted criminal cases ever on 
the docket in our county. 

Canada Bill.. 

During the summer and fall of 1886, a half- 
breed Indian from Canada, called "Canada Bill, ' ' 
had been employed by various parties in the 
Roark neighborhood. He appeared to be a man 
of vicious habits and of rather inferior mental 
faculties. 

One afternoon in December, 1886, Mrs. Robert 
Roark, who lived in the Roark valley near the 
Newton county line, was left alone with her 
little children. Bill happened to pass by and 
finding her alone made indecent proposals which 
was followed by an assault. A desperate strug- 
gle ensued. The fight begun in the house and 
terminated in the road outside the yard some 
twenty or thirty yards away. During the fight 



112 HISTORY OP MCDONALD COUNTY. 

her little boy some three or four years old, threw 
an ear of corn and hit his mother's assailant. 
Perhaps, frightened by her screams for help, 
or believing assistance was at hand, he suddenly 
abandoned the assault and fled. Mrs. Roark 
was bruised in several places where he had 
struck her and her clothing was badly torn, but 
she was not seriously injured. She immediately 
fled to the nearest neighbors and gave the alarm. 
A possee was soon in pursuit and in a few hours 
her assailant was captured in the Indian Territo- 
ry The Indian policeman arrested him and de- 
livered him to the possee to be brought back to 
this county for trial. He was taken to the house 
of P. P. Rinehart to be guarded through the 
night. Not long after dark a mob surrounded 
the house and demanded the prisoner. Mr. Rine- 
hart went out and requested them to go away, 
which they apparently consented to do. Short- 
ly afterwards the prisoner, with several guards, 
was started off to Pineville. They went on foot 
across the fields and through the woods. When 
they reached the foot of the big hill on the 
Seneca road near Buflalo creek, they halted and 
built up a fire to keep warm while one of the 
Lager boys went home to get a team and wagon. 
After waiting here for some time they started 
on, and had gone but a short distance when they 
were suddenly surrounded by a mob which at 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 113 

once took charge of the prisoner. In the mean 
time, Canada Bill seemed to be aware of the late 
that probably awaited him. He had talked over 
his crime freely and acknowledged his guilty 
He signified a desire to plead guilty and said he 
thought he ought to be sent to the penitentiary, 
but he did not think he deserved to be lynched. 
He was taken on down the road to where a clump 
of eight or ten large trees stood near Sam Owen's 
field, and hung to the limb of a black oak. In 
his last moments Canada Bill j^roved himself 
worthy of the stoical race to which he belonged. 
Seeing that his captors were devoid of mercy 
and protests were in vain, he resigned himself 
to his doom and met death in a spirit worthy of 
any hero. The guards who were permitted to 
witness his execution said that when the rope 
was placed around his neck and thrown over 
the limb that he never uttered a groan or moved 
a muscle, but was drawn up like a log of wood 
and died as quietly as though he had lain down 
to a peaceful sleep. He had been guilty of a 
grevous offense, but grevously did he answer 
for it. After the inquest the next day the body 
was placed in a rude coffin and buried nea^r the 
top of the hill. 

A year from the following summer a small cy- 
clone dipped down and tore up the entire grove 
Including the tree to which he was hung. 



114 history of mcdonald county. 

The Moore Murder. 

On Wednesday night, July 19, 1894, C. L. 
Moore and his wife, Mary A. Moore, were mur- 
dered in cold blood at their residence near Tiff 
City. The following account taken from the 
McDonald County Republican of July 27, 1894, 
is substantially correct: 

' ' The greatest crime that was ever perpetrated 
in time of peace in McDonald county was com- 
mitted last Wednesday night by the murder of 
C. L. Moore and his wife. 

The Moore residence is situated in a narrow 
valley that makes up from Buffalo creek about 
a mile and one-half above Tiff City. The val- 
ley runs nearly north and south, and the house, 
a good-sized two story frame, is situated on the 
west side, fronting about east. The road lead- 
ing from Buffalo creek to the State Line road 
on the uplands runs in front of the house about 
a hundred yards distant. The house sets back 
a few steps from the front fence. A double 
porch extends the entire length of the house in 
front, at the north end of which is a stairway. 
There are two doors and two windows opening 
out on the porch. It is about a quarter of a mile 
from the main road along Buffalo creek bottom. 
Here these two old people were living alone, 
their children all being grown and married. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 115 

Their youngest daughter and husband, George 
Williams, live about two hundred yards above 
the Moore residence. 

Last Wednesday evening about dark nine 
pistol shots were heard in that vicinity, but as 
shooting is frequent, no particular attention 
was paid to it. The next morning a boy who 
had borrowed the Esquire's buggy the day be- 
fore returned it about ten o'clock and put it up 
in the barn. Not seeing any one, he hollowed. 
Hearing no resj^onse he went in at the gate 
when he saw Mrs. Moore lying on the porch. 
He at first supposed she was asleep but ongoing 
nearer he discovered a pool of blood. Almost 
wild with fright he ran and gave the alarm. 
The news spread like wild-fire and the people 
for miles around gathered in under the most in- 
tense excitement. Prosecuting Attorney, Hugh 
Dabbs, and his assistant A. V. Mannnig had 
gone to Tiff city that morning and arrived just as 
the word came. With Dr. A. J. McKinney 
they went to the scene of the murder, where an 
examination of the two bodies and of the prem- 
ises was made. Mr. Moore was found lying in 
the northwest corner of the north room, his right 
arm under his head, the left raised as if trying 
to ward off the blow. There were four bullet 
holes in his body, as follows: One in right arm 
near the shoulder, one on the front side of the 



116 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

right shoulder, one on the right side of the head 
through the temporal bone, the other in the 
cheek on the right side of the nose. The last 
two wounds were both fatal. The blood had 
run in a stream and was clotted all along the 
floor all the way to the fire place. Mrs. Moore 
was lying on the porch, across the front door 
her feet near the foot of the stairs. She was 
on her face, her head resting on both arms. 
She had been shot in the upper part of the arm, 
on the left side of the neck, and in the back part 
of the head. Dr. McKinney says she was evi- 
dently running when the fatal shots were flred. 
Toward the south end of the porch were the 
chairs where they had been sitting and their 
pipes from which they had taken their last 
peaceful smoke, were lying in the window. They 
had removed their shoes, one x)air being found 
on the porch and the other pair in the house, 
like they had been removed and put away for 
the night. Both were in their stocking feet, 
she with a light summer dress, he having re- 
moved his coat and vest, and the top button of 
his pants unfastened as though preparing to 
retire. The lamp was still burning. The ex- 
amination showed that they had been dead 
about fifteen hours, both bodies being cold and 
stiff. Two other chairs were sitting on the 
porch near the two just mentioned indicating 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 117 

there had been two visitors. Five shells of 
empty cartridges, number 38, were found near 
the door, and four of the same kind have been 
found on the premises since. In addition to the 
seven wounds found in the bodies two bullets 
had lodged in the floor. It is evident the shots 
were all fired from the same pistol, as the shells 
found were all punctured a little to one side of 
the center and all exactly in the same manner. 

The only conceivable motive to the crime was 
robbery. Mr. Moore was a man of considerable 
means, and it w^as knowm that he was saving up 
money to pay off a mortgage on some property 
he owned in Kansas. The amount, if any, se- 
cured is not known, but is probably from two to 
Ave hundred dollars was obtained. It was evi- 
dently the act of some one who knew the family 
well and their financial condition. It is also evi- 
dent Mr. and Mrs. Moore both knew their as- 
sailants, for strangers would not take such ex- 
treme precaution of shooting so many times to 
insure instant death. 

Suspicion rests on parties not far away and 
some clues, which we are not at liberty disclose 
tend to confirm the suspicion. 

A liberal reward has been offered, and it is 
more than likely the guilty parties w^ill soon be 
in the meshes of the law^ 

Esq. Moore has long been one of the prominent 



118 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

men of our county and was highly respected by 
all who knew him. His wife who was part 
Indian, was an estimable lady. They were 
about sixty years old and after giving a home 
to each of their children, were living out their 
old age in a comfortable home with plenty and 
to spare. 

In the following September Lafe Hamilton 
and his brother Tom were arrested charged with 
the crime. The preliminary examination was 
held before Esq. S W. King at Pine ville, lasted 
three days and resulted in the defendants being 
held to await the action of the grand j ury . They 
gave bond in a few days and were released. 

At the February term of court following these 
two defendants, with their brother William 
Hamilton and Andrew Taylor were indicted for 
the crime. Being unable to furnish bail, they 
were committed to the Newton county Jail where 
they remained until the August term of court, 
1896, at which time the case against Taylor was 
nollied and the Hamiltons were tried. This is 
one of the most interesting cases ever tried in 
McDonald county. Hundreds of people came 
to hear it, and from Tuesday evening until Sat- 
urday evening the court house was literally 
packed full of people eager to catch every word 
of the evidence. The State was represented by 
J. D. Edge, prosecuting attorney, Hugh Dabbs 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 119 

and J. W. Brunk, of Neosho, and H. C. Pepper 
and Tom Steel, of Cassville. The defendants 
were represented by Georg-e R. Clay and J. A. 
Sturges, of Pineville, A. J. Harbison, of Neosho, 
and Cloud & Davies, of Pierce City. The intro- 
duction of evidence was begun Wednesday 
evening and the arguments closed late Saturday 
afternoon. Sunday forenoon the jury returned 
a verdict of not guilty. 

Up to the present writing, July 13, 1897, no 
other parties have been apprehended and it ap- 
pears that this great crime will ever remain a 
mystery, and its perpetrators go unpunished. 

The Hanging Of Grubb. 

In June 1885, Dorson B. Anderson a deaf and 
dumb man, left some point in Lawrence county 
with a team and wagon and came down into 
McDonald county, camping out while on his 
journey. Irwin Grubb accompanied him. They 
camped one night a few miles above Pineville 
and several days after the dead, and partially 
decomposed body of Anderson was found in one 
of the lonely hollows making out from Dog Hol- 
low. 

Traces were found where the body had been 
dragged for some distance to the place where 
it was hidden, being covered with leaves and 



ll\) IMSTOKV OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

brusli. The wairou had boon takod to piocos 
and hiddon in the brakes of Suirar creek. Griibb 
was soon after apprehended in Lawreuee county 
and brouii'ht back to the Pineville jail where he 
remained antil the nia'ht of his death. He tried 
to chiim that the killiuii- was an accident, but 
all the circumstances pointed stroni^ly to his 
iruilt. 

One niii'ht in November. 188"), a mob nuide a 
very sudden and wholly unexpected raid on the 
jail, and took Grubb out and huni>" him to the 
limb of a tree near the spot where Dr. Chenoweth 
had been murdered, just at the bend of the road 
east of the school house. 

The Ktt.tjno Of Wtc^k Laxe. 

There has never been a leiral execution in 
McDonald county, but John Abels was convicted 
of the murder of Wick Lane in 1S74, and hunii* 
at Carthai^fe, to which place his case had been 
taken on a chani^e of venne. 

Abels was i>-ettin«: alonij- in vears and was 
livinof with a youniz' wonum, supposed to be his 
wife, thouii'h some of the older settlers say there 
had never been a formality of thenuirriage rite. 
He was not onlv iealous of her, but treated her 
with extreme crueltv considerable of the time 
keepiuir her chained. They were living on 



HISTORY OF MCDONATJ) COUNTY. 121 

Patterson Cr(jf;k. 

In th(^ rsy)nn^ of 1H74, she eloped with one 
Neil Dodson , who had a wife and several chi ^ < von 
They went to the Indian Territory. ^x-volrj 
accused Lane of bein^ imi)licated in the affair. 
He protested that. he knew nothing of it and 
w^ent with Af)elsin search of the woman. They 
went east throu<^h some two or three counties, 
but faihfd to find any trace of the missing one. 
On theii' return, AV)els became more suspicious 
of Lan(i, and accused him of le.adinj^ him. out of 
the way in order to ^ive the fleeing parties a 
better oi)portunity to escai)e. They apx)eared 
to have stox)ped near a sy^ring on Granny's 
Branch not far from where Cyclone now is where . 
the killing was done. 

Just how the murder was committed will never 
be known in all its details, but the evidence 
showed it to have been cool, deliberate and cruel. 
One who examined the body and the ground 
surrounding says that it is evident that Lane 
was sitting down against a white oak tree when 
the first shot was tired, as the ballet had lodged 
in the tree and the first traces of blood v,^ere 
found at its roots. From there to a spring a 
few yards distant was a track of blood and in- 
dications that the wounded man had crawled 
from the tree to the water. Here he was found 
with his face down in the pool as though in the 



122 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

act of quenching his thirst, when the second shot 
was fired. Either wound would have been fatal. 
Abels took his victim's horse and revolver 
and fled. The dead body was discovered that 
day or the next and Abel was followed and cap- 
tured in the Nation. His case was sent on a 
change venae to Jasper county where he was 
convicted and hung. He acknowledged the 
crime on the day of execution, and said all he 
regretted was that Sam Lane was present to 
see him die. 

The Emma Brown Case. 

The records of our county would hardly be 
complete without the sensation of trying a wom- 
an for murder. This was furnished by the trial 
of Emma Brown (Carroll) for poisoning her in- 
fant child. This trial was accompanied by two 
of the most remarkable incidents the writer ever 
saw or heard of when a woman was on trial for 
her life. The first was that every woman who 
attended the trial sympathized with the prose- 
cution and was eager for a verdict of guilty. 
The other, that Emma's own mother, without 
reserve, or hesitancy, and apparently without 
emotion gave at length and in detail the most 
damaging evidence against her daughter. 

In September, 1886, the little baby diedu nder 
such suspicious circumstances that an inquest 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 123 

was held and the coroner's jury brought in a 
verdict of death by poisoning. The parents, 
Charles and Emma Brown, were indicted for 
murder in the first degree. 

The evidence showed that Emma had been 
wayward. She had met Brown for the first time 
but a few months before the child was born, 
and they were married soon after they became 
acquainted. The birth of the child under these 
circumstances caused trouble, although Brown 
it is said had been apprised of the facts before 
the marriage. The mother sent her little brother 
to Pineville after laudanum with a precaution to 
say nothing about it. The bottle was seen under 
her j)illow, and afterwards found empty in the 
garden. On the other hand, it was shown that 
she was very fond of the baby and treated it 
with the affection common to young mothers. 
Of course the above is but a few of the points 
brought out in the evidence, and the fact that 
the child died from the effects of laudanum was 
not disputed. The defendant displayed remark- 
able nerve during the trial until her attorneys 
began addressing the jury when she broke down 
and wept violently for an hour or more. It was 
after dark when the jury reported and Deputy 
Sheriff, James Kenney sta^rted with her from 
the jail to the court house. Just outside of the 
east gate, they met John A. Ford, the Sheriff, 



124 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

and Kenney remarked that Ford could take her 
up, while he looked after other business. She 
caught Ford's arm in both of hers and remarked 
quite cheerfully, "Iv'e got me another beau. " 
They went on up to the court room where she 
heard the verdict of "not guilty,'' and the 
thoughtless, wayward girl went out again into 
the sunlight of freedom. 

She had been tried separately from her hus- 
band and the jury thought there was a doubt as 
to whether she or her husband had given the 
fatal dose. The case against her husband was 
nollied. 

Death of Little Claude Morgan. 

One of the most distressing affairs ever wit- 
nessed in our county occurred at South w^est City 
the last day of March, 1895. An attem|)t was 
made to arrest Jack Carey, a half breed Indian, 
for disturbing the peace. When ordered to sur- 
render, instead of complying, he presented his 
Winchester and opened fire on the officers. L. 
W. Carlyle, city marshal, Cap Franks, const- 
able, and deputy marshal, George Ratcliff, and 
Simps Melton constituted the possee trying to 
make the arrest. They returned the fire, and 
other parties began shooting at the same time, 
ostensibly at the officers. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 125 

When the shooting began Chas. Morgan, a 
white man who lived in the Nation, was coming 
into town from the north, his little girl and his 
little boy, Claude 5 years old, sitting with him 
in the wagon seat. One of the pistol balls struck 
the little boy, entering just above the right eye 
and passing out at the back of his head and pass- 
through the father's arm which was around the 
child. The little fellow died in about an hour 
and a half. 

An inquest was held the following Monday, 
but it could not be ascertained who fired the fa- 
tal shot. Carey was shot in the groin and cap- 
tured. He was held in the sum of $1,000 for 
felonious assault, to which he entered a plea of 
guilty at the following term of court and was 
fined $125. 

[There are two cases now pending in court an 
account of which will be given among the mis- 
cellaneous matters ] 



126 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

County Officers. 

As has been stated elsewhere, the first county 
officers after the close of the war were appointed 
by the governor of the state. Following is a list 
of the principal county officers from that date 
down to the present with the date of the appoint- 
ment or election of each. 

Representative. 

In 1864 an election was held, McDonald county 
voting at Newtonia. At this election Claudius 
B. Walker was elected to the legislature. He 
was again elected in 1866. 

John B. Price held the office from 1866 to 1870. 

John C. Lamson was elected in 1870 and served 
one term. 

William C. Price was elected in 1872 and again 
in 1874, serving two terms. 

J. J. Brown was elected in 1876 and served 
one term. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 127 

A. W. Chenoweth was elected in 1878 and 

served one term. 

A. J. Phillips was elected in 1880 and served 

one term. ^ , 

T. F. Ford was elected in 1882 and ser^^ed 

one term. ^ ^ , 

Thomas Collins was elected in 1884 and served 

one term. ^ ^ , 

J. J. McNatt was elected in 1886 and served 

one term. ^^ . , 

M. C> Christian was electedinl888 and served 

one term. 

James F. Kenney was elected in 1890 and serv- 
ed one term. 

Richard J. Balch was elected in 1892 and serv- 
ed one term. 

Fred M. Best was elected in 1894 and served 

one term. 

James F. Tandy was elected in 1896, and still 

holds that position. 

Circuit Clerk And Recorder. 

RuFUS L. Hargrove was the first to hold 
this office when the coarts were reorganized at 
the close of the war. He served during 186o 

and 1866. ^^ , 

A. W. Chenoweth filled the office the next 

four years, 1876 to 1870 inclusive. 



128 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

R. L. Hargrove was elected in 1870 and served 
four years. 

A. M. Dillin was elected in 1874 and again in 
1878, serving eight years. 

H. A. P. Cloud was elected in 1882, and re- 
elected in 1886, serving two terms. 

J. W. Shields was elected in 1890 and served 
four years. 

S. G. Sutter was elected in 1894, and is the 
present incumbent. 

County Clerk. 

The County and Circuit clerk's offices were 
filled by the same person until 1882 when they 
were separated. 

M. R. DeGroff was elected in 1882 and served 
four years. 

J. P. Caldwell was elected in 1886 and again 
in 1890, serving eight years. 

Zach Baker, the present incumbent was elect- 
ed in 1894. 

Judge And Circuit Attorney. 

The record shows that Circuit court was op- 
ened at this place November 18, 1865. John C. 
Price of Neosho was Judge. He served in that 
capacity until 1869 when he was succeeded by 
B. L. Hendricks, who opened his first court Au- 



/ 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 129 

gust 30, Df that year. Judge Hendricks was on 
the bench until January 1, 1875, when he was 
succeeded by Joseph Cravens of Neosho. 

Judge Cravens filled the office six years when 
he was succeeded by M. G. McGregor, of Carth- 
age. 

Judge McGregor was re-elected in 1886, but 
the circuit being changed in 1889 caused a va- 
cancy, which was supplied, by the appointment 
of Judge Cravens. 

Judge Cravens was elected in 1890 to fill the 
short term and served two years. 

In 1892 J. C. Lamson, of Pineville, was elect- 
ed, and is the present incumbent. 

Circuit Attorneys. 

At the oeginning of this period a Circuit At- 
torney had jurisdiction co-extensive with the 
circuit court whose duty it was to j)rosecute 
all offenders, and, in fact, whose powers and du- 
ties were the same as the prosecuting attorney 
is at present. 

George W. Randolph of this county was the 

first after the war to hold that office for this 

circuit. He was succeeded in August 1869, by 

J. L. Page of Jasper county. 

Page served until September, 1871, at which 
time he was succeeded by A. L. Thomas of 
Carthasre. 



130 history of mcdonald county. 

County And Prosecuting Attorney. 

By order of the county court, May 9th, 1866, 
J. C. Lamson was appointed attorney for Mc- 
Donald county. He served until xlugust 10,1867 
when h e tendered his resignation which 
was accepted by the county court. He re- 
cieved ^100 for his services. 

By an order of court, November 9th, 1867, A. 
H. Kenney was appointed county attorney for 
a period of six months from November 4, 1867. 
His compensation for the term being fixed at the 
sum of ^100 He served until removed by order 
of the county court, November 6, 1868. 

He was succeeded by Oney Carstarphen in 1869. 

Prosecuting Attorney. 

J. Tj. Smythe was appointed county attorney 
b7 the county court May 1st, 1871. He was 
elected prosecuting attorney November 8, 1872. 

John L. Barr was elected at the November 
election, 1874. He filled the office until removed 
February 9, 1876. 

Z. T. Murphy was appointed February 9, 1876 

and filled the unexpired term of J. L. Barr. He 

served two years. 

John C. Lamson, the present Circuit Judge 
was elected at the general election, November 
1878 and served two years. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 131 

J. W. Brunk was elected November 1880 and 
held the office one term. 

James C. Cole was elected November, 1882, 
and re-elected in 1884, serving four years. 

H. C. Pepper was elected to the office at the 
November election in 1886, and again in 1888, 
serving two terms. 

Hugh Dabbs w^as elected in 1890 and 1892 
holding the office four years. 

J. D. Edge was elected in 1894 and held the 
office one term. 

• George R. Clay, the present incambent, was 
chosen at the general election in November 1896. 

Sheriff And Collector. 

John V. Hargrove was the first sheriff after 
the w^ar, having been appointed to that office 
by the governor in -1866. He served until De- 
cember, 1867. 

Samuel Baker assumed the duties of sheriff 

and collector, January, 1867. 

James H. Wimpey took charge of the office 
in March 1869 and held the office for the year 

1871-2 

C. L. Fields held the office from 1873 to 1876 

inclusive. 

J. C. Montgomery was elected in 1876 and 

served one term. 



132 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

E. M. Jarrett was elected November 5, 1876 
and re-elected in November 1880, serving two 
full terms. 

J. C. Seabourn was elected November 7, 1882 
and held the office tw^o terms. 

At the election in 1886, John A. Ford was 
elected to the office of sheriff and collector, 
which he held two terms. 

W. W. Bacon was elected in 1890 and held the 
office one term. After the close of this term 
the two offices w^ere held separately. , 

J. T. Williams, succeeded Bacon in 1892 and 
held the office one term. 

H. C. Prater was elected in 1884 and held the 
office one term. 

Sheriff: George T. Woolard elected in 1892. 

John C. Kelley in 1894. R. Jarrett in 1896. 

Probate Judge. 

This court was in connection with the county 
court until the beginning of 1869. On the 24th 
day of March, 1868 an act of the legislature was 
passed establishing the Probate courts in the 
various counties of the state. Pursuant to this 
law the records show that on the 11th day of 
January, 1869, the probate court of this county 
was opened and adjourned until the 4th Monday 
in January, the same year. This record is signed 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 133 

by A. H. Kennedy, Probate Judge. 

March 23rd, 1869, the record shows a descrip- 
tion of the seal of the Probate court for this 
county. This record is signed, Hiram Baker, 
Probate Judge. Hiram Baker opened court 
April 12th, of that year and held the office until 
February, 1873. C. P, Bullock succeeded Baker 
and held the office about one year. 

Z. Smith held the office a short time in 1874, 
when he was succeeded by W. S. Street who was 
elected at the general election that year. 
Judge Street filled the office three years. 
Jess'ee Parish was Judge from January 1st, to 
June 1st, 1878, and W. C. Duval from that time 
to the end of the year. 

These last four, Z! Smith, W. S. Street, Jessee 
Parish and W. C. Duval, were at the same time 
Judges of the county court. 

At the November election in 1878, I. N. Sham- 
baugh was elected to the office. He was re-elect- 
ed in 1882 out served only part of his term. He 
resigned in 1883 and J. W. Brunk was appointed 
to fill the office until the next election. 

Y\[. E. Smith was first elected in November, 
1884, to fill the unexpired two years of Judge 
Shambaugh's term. He was re-elected in 1886 
and again in 1890, serving in all ten years. 

James M. Elliot, the present incumbent, was 
elected at the general election in 1894. 



134 history of mcdonald county. 

County Judges. 

The first county court after the war consisted 
of Benjamin F. Hopkins, Enoch G. Williams and 
Isaac A. Harmon. The court assembled Monday, 
November 6th, 1865, Harmon not being present. 
The first order made was that appointing Ben- 
jamin F. Hopkins, Presiding Judge. Thirty 
days later, December 6th5 an order was made 
appointing Enoch G. Williams Presiding Justice. 

There appears to have been an election No- 
vember 6th, 1866, at which Hugh L. Testerman, 
I. A. Harmon and John Jones were elected county 
Judges. On the 17th of December following, 
Hugh L. Testerman was appointed Presiding 
Justice. ' 

At the November election in 1868. Joel Meador 
was elected to succeed H. L. Testerman, I. A. 
Harmon and Jehu Jones being elected for a sec- 
ond term. I. A. Harmon served as Presiding 
Justice pro tem from Jan. 1, 1869 until May 3, 
1869, at which time he was appointed to that 
position by order of the court. 

At the election in 1870 Joel Meador was re- 
elected, James H. Wimpey and Thomas McDon- 
ald succeeding the other two, Wimpey being 
appointed by the Governor in 1871. 

February 15, 1871 James H. Wimpey was ap- 
pointed Presiding Justice by order of the court. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 135 

The three served untilJanuary 17, 1872, at which 
time Zach Smith took charge of the office, he 
having been elected at a special election Nov- 
ember 7th, 1871. He served until January 23, 
1873, Thomas McDonald and John Evans were 
associates during Smith's term. 

At the regular November election, in 1872, 
Geo. Manning and John Wilson were elected 
county judges, and the new court organized 
January 23, 1873, by electing Thomas McDonald 

Presiding Judge. 

W. S. Street was elected judge at the No- 
vember election in 1874. During the next four 
years there was but one judge instead of three 
as there was before and has been since. 

Street filled the office three years. Jessee Par- 
ish was judge from January 1, to June 1, 1878. 
W. C. Duval from June 1, 1878 to the end of the 

year. 

I. N. Shambaughwas elected Presiding Judge 

in 1878 and served four years. He was again 
elected in 1882 and served until 1883, at which 
time he resigned 

George R. McMahon was elected Judge of the 
Eastern District, and J. D. Heron, Judge of the 
Western District, in 1878. Both were re-elected 
in 1880 and served a second term. 

A. B. Shields was elected Judge of the West- 
ern District and Holly Hinton Judge of the 



136 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

Eastern District in 1882. In part of 1883 and in 
1884 J. W. Brunk filled the office of Presiding 
Judge by appointment. 

Holly Hintonwas elected for a second term in 
1884, and J. D. Heron was again elected at the 
same time. Both served two years more. 

H. B. Landers was elected the same year to 
fill the vacancy in the office of Presiding Judge 
and served two years. 

J. A. Sturges was elected Presiding Judge in 
1886, H. J. Laughlin, Judge of the Eastern, and 
J. W. Nutting, Judge of the Western District. 
The two Associates were re-elected in '88, and 
these three com]30sed the court for four years, 
1887-91. 

John M. Boyd was elected Presiding Judge in 
1890 and served four years. John R. Patterson 
was elected Judge of the Eastern District and 
John W. Cunningham Judge of the Western Dis- 
trict the same year. In 1892 Cunningham was 
re-elected and C. J. Marrs, Judge of the East- 
ern District. Marrs resigned in the later part 
of 1893, and John R. Patterson was appointed 
to fill the vacancy 

J. Turner Horner was elected Presiding 
Judge in November, 1894 which position he still 
occupies. J. W. Adkins was elected Judge of 
the Eastern Dictrict and Patrus Testerman 
Judge of the Western District in 1894. 



HISTORY OP MCDONALD COUNTY. 137 

George W. Mitchell was elected Judge of the 
Western District and William Newman Judge 
of the Eastern District in 1896. 

Assessor. 

November 7, 1865, Henry H. Fox was appoint- 
ed assessor of McDonald county, by order of the 
county court. The next record I have been 
able to find is where the bond of James H. Wim- 
pey, assessor elect, is approved by the court. 
May 8, 1867. Mr. Wimpey served two years. 

William H. Prater held the office for a short 
time, when he resigned and D. M. May hew was 
appointed to fill his place. 

E. F. Burns was elected November 7, 1871 
and served two years. 

James H. Chapman was elected November 5, 
1872, served 6 years. 

J. J. Clanton was elected in 1878 and served 

two years. 

H. A. F. Cloud was elected in 1880 and again 

in 1882. 

John H. Chapman was elected in 1884 and 

served two years. 

Zach Baker was elected in 1886 and served 

two years. 

John P. Madden was elected in 1888 and 
again in 1890, serving four years. 



138 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

W. H. Noel was elected in 1892 and served 
two years. At the election in November 1894 
the result was a tie between him and Walter 
Hankins. A special election was called at which 
Noel was successful, thus serving two terms. 

Martin L. Marrs was elected in 1896. and is 
the present incumbent. 

Treasurer. 

A. W. Chenoweth was appointed county treas- 
urer November 8, 1865. I. N. Williams was ap- 
pointed February 7, 1866, 

John M. Boyd was appointed treasurer De- 
cember 18, May 11 1866 and December 18, 1867. 

J. C. Parmer was appointed to the office Feb- 
ruary 8, 1868. 

Hugh L. Testerman was appointed December 
1, 1870. 

J. P. LaMance was elected November 5, 1872 
and served two years. 

At the general election November 3, 1874, 
J. C. Baber was elected county treasurer and 
held the office for ten years without intermission. 

At the general election in 1884 A. C. Walters 

was elected county treasurer and held the office 

two years. 

J. C. Baber was again elected in 1886 and 
held two terms, his last term expiring December 

31st, 1891. 



HISTORY OF MCDONAI.D COUNTY. 



139 



M. N. Lamance was elected to the office in 
1890 and held the office two terms. 

J. C. Farmer was elected in 1894 and held the 

office one term. 

M. N. Lamance was again elected in 1896 and 
consequently is our present treasurer. 

Public Administrator. 

This office was filled for a time by C. B. Walker, 
but at what time could not be ascertained. 
Probably about the breaking out of the war. 

•Daniel Harmon was the first to hold this office 
after the war, having been appointed by the 
county court November 7, 1866. He served four 

years. 

J. C. Lamson held the office from 1870-1872. 

John Wilson served in 1872. 

H H. Fox was elected in November, 1872, but 
the election was contested by J. W. Bedell, and 
Fox consented that the contest be decided m 
favor of Bedell, consequently the office was filled 

by him. 

W. W. Chase was elected in 1874. He has 
been re-elected two or three times, and has also 
held several terms by his successor failing to 
qualify, so that the office was filled by him un- 
til January 1, 1897. 



140 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

P. M. Fink of Indian Springs was elected in 
November, 1896, and is the present incumbent. 

Coroner. 

November 7, 1866, Hugh L. Testerman was 
appointed coroner by order of the county court. 

December 18, 1866, E.G. Williams was appoint- 
ed coroner of the county. He resigned, Febru- 
ary 1869. 

J. C. Baber was appointed May 7, 1869. At 
the November election, 1870, Jacob McClendin 
was elected, but refused to qualify, and J. C. 
Baber was appointed, February 6, 1871, to till 
the vacancy. He was elected at the November 
election in 1872. 

Z. Smith was elected in 1874. 

J. W. Brown in 1876. 

Jarrett Watkins in 1878. 

Harris Brown in 1880. 

C. Plumlee in 1884 and 1888. 

J. E. Edelen in 1890 and 1892. 

William Maness in 1894. Maness moved oat 
of the county and Dr. Cravens was appointed 
to till the vacancy. 

L. Maynard was elected in November 1896 
but failed to qualify, and the office became va- 
cant. 



history of mcdonald county. 141 

Surveyor. 

Jacob Caudtu was elected to this ottice in 
November 1872 and again in 1876. 

Thomas Ford in 1880. 

H. P. Lamberson in 1884 and again in 1888. 

J. M. Long was elected in 1892, but failed to 
qualify, and J. S. Long was aj)pointed to fill the 
vacancy. He served to the close of 1894. 

W. P. Fox was elected in 1894 and served two 
years, being the remainder of the term to which 
J. M. Long was elected. 

Daniel Thrasher was elected in 1896 and is 
now the incumbent of the office. 

School Commissioner. 

Abner W. Tatum was appointed to this office 
by the county court. May 9, 1866. He served 
but a short time when J. C. Lamsonwas appoint- 
ed. Mr Lamson served aboat three years. 

About the close of his term John Wilson was 
appointed and filled the office for some time. 

At the election in 1872 J. S. Sterrett was de- 
clared to be elected, but the records show that 
his election was contested by F. M. Seamster 
and the case determined February 11, 1873. 
Sterrett in his answer admits the election of 



142 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

Seamster and consents that the commission be 
issued accordingly. 

J. P. Kenney held the office from 1881-3. 

A. C. Eliff held the office from 1883-5. 

J. H. Wood succeeded Mr. Eliff and held two 
years. 

W. O. Moore was the next incumbent, and 
served two years. 

L. A. Henderson was elected in 1889 and held 
two years. 

J. W. Morrow was elected in 1891 and again 
in 1893 and served four years. 

J. W. Smith was elected to the office in 1895, 
and again in 1897. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 143 



CHAPTER IX. 



ACCIDENTS. 



To chronicle all the fatal accidents that have 
happened in this county would require more 
than the entire contents of this volume. Pol- 
lowing are a few of the more striking ones which 
serve to illustrate how easily the thread of life 
may be broken by accident or carelessness. 

John H. Harmon Killed. 

John H. Harmon, son of Isaac Harmon, left 
town to-day (January 26, 1881) about noon, in a 
state of intoxication. He was driving his team, 
which w^as usually gentle, and was alone in his 
wagon. It is supposed that the horses became 
frightened and ran away; at any rate John Mos- 
ier found the wagon and team and the dead body 
of Mr. Harmon in Price's lane near Pineville, 
about 2 o'clock p. m. Harmon was quite dead 
and w^as lying under the wheel of the wagon, 
the lines were wrapped several times about the 



144 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

dead man's legs, and the head was considerably 
bruised. 

Jonn H. Harmon was about 40 years old. He 
married the daughter of Thomas Gordon, of 
Benton county, Arkansas, and leaves a wdfe 
and several children. 

This sad occurrence is another incidence in the 
long chax-)ter of w^rongs caused by whisky, and 
is all the more frightful from its happening 
near a town where no w^hisky is sold as a bev- 
erage except in defiance of the laws of the land. 
— Pineville News. 

Killed by a Falling Tree 

Otis Sterley, a young man about 20 years 
of age, was killed at Thomas Looney's, on 
Little Sugar creek, in the Southeastern part of 
the county, November 10, 1883, by a falling tree. 
Young Sterley and Looncy w^ere hauling rails, 
and while Sterley w^as replacing a rail that had 
partially fallen from the Avagon, a dead tree that 
was standing near fell on him and crushed him 
against the hind wheel of the wagon and bruised 
him so that he died in about half an hour. 
— Pineville News. 

Dead In A Shaft;. 

On Friday morning last (May 31, 1884) about 
8 o'clock John Devick, w^ho w^as working in a 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 145 

shaft at Dr. Benna,s mines two miles southwest 
of Twin Spring's, died from the effects of foul 
air. It appears that deceased and Dr. Benna 
went to the shaft the day previous for the pur- 
pose of putting oif a blast that had been prex)ared, 
and that deceased proposed, to go down then, 
but as they both supposed there w^as damp in 
the shaft, concluded to wait until the next morn- 
ing when it w^ould be cooler and, as they thought, 
safe. On the morning above stated Mr. Benna 
let him down in the shaft, which was about 40 
feet deep, on a rope attached to a windless, and 
after reaching the bottom he said the air w^as 
bad and he could not stand it, and requested 
Mr. Benna to pull him out. He then placed one 
foot in a loop in the rope and took hold with 
both hands, but when about 6 feet from the 
bottom, he fell back, and w^as dead before aid 
could reach him. — Pineville New^s. 

Fatal Accident. 

Willie Testerman, aged 17 years, son of 
Marshal Testerman, was killed on the Neosho 
road about a mile above Pineville, October 18, 
1888. He had brought a load of lumber to towm 
for the Baptist church, which was then building 
and was returning home, riding on the front bol- 
ster of the wagon. When near the place above 
mentioned, the team became frightened and 



146 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

ran away, throwing' him off, and the wheels 
probably passed over him. Beside being badly 
bruised a blood vessel at the base of the brain 
was ruptured from the effects of which he died 
in about an hour. — Pineville News. 

• 

Drowned While Fishing. 

Frank Derbin was drowned in Big Sugar 
creek, some 12 or 15 miles above Pineville, last 
Saturday, while fishing. He, with others, was 
fishing with a net or sein They had set their 
net at the end of a deep pool of water, and Der- 
bin went out on a log that lay in the creek and 
jumped off into the water and swam under it for 
some distance as if diving, and when nearing 
the lower end of the pool, where the water was 
shallow attempted to raise himself out of the 
water, but fell back. Some of his associates, 
seeing there was something wrong with him, 
caught him and dragged him out on the bank 
where he died in two or three minntes. The 
general inpression is that he died from conges- 
tion caused by being in the water two long, 
having been in the greater part of the time for 
three or four hours. He was ondinarily a pro- 
ficient swimmer. — Pineville News, May 27, 1887. 



history of mcdonald county. 147 

Killed By Lightning. 

In the latter part of March, 1890, one of the 
most distressing cases caused by lightning ever 
recorded, occured on the Widow Ray farm on 
Buffalo creek. The house occupied by John 
Wilson and family was struck by lightning 
between 12 and 1 o'clock. The family were all 
in bed at the time. The bolt came through the 
roof down the gable end of the house and struck 
Mrs. Wilson in the breast, killing her instantly. 
Their little son, William, was terribly shocked 
and died the next morning. The baby, which 
laid next to its mother was unharmed. Mr. 
Wilson was shocked so he could not move, and 
the bed having been set on lire he was compelled 
to lay there for a considerable time, the smudging 
fire gradually eating into his flesh. The only 
other occupant of the house was Mrs. Wilson's 
father, a feeble old man who could not get Mr. 
Wilson off the bed. He finally extinguished 
the fire, thus saving the life of the helpless man. 
Mr. Wilson was terribly burnt about the hips 
and thisrhs, and for months had to be lifted like 
a child, but he finally recovered. 

Death Of John Stafford. 

One of the saddest accidents of late years was 



148 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

the accidental killing of John Stafford, son of 
Claib and Elizabeth Stafford of Cyclone, October 
13, 1891. Young Stafford, with his brother 
Charley and several others, was working on the 
right of way of the railroad south of the river 
along Jim William s field. 

He and John LaGore were chopping down a 
tree that stood at the foot of a ledge of rock 
about four feet high. LaGore was on the lower 
side while Stafford was on the upper, between 
the tree and the rock wall. Suddenly, and be- 
fore it was expected to fall, the tree split up 
some three feet, the butt -flew back and caught 
him against the solid mass of stone, cutting off 
the right leg near the upper part of the thigh, 
and crushing the left leg from the knee to the 
ankle. As if satisfied with its terrible work the 
tree then lurched forward and pitched several 
feet down the hill. 

The injured man was taken to the camp near 
the river where his leg was amputated, but the 
shock from the injury and the ordeal of having 
his limb severed was more than human strength 
could bear, and he died about 2 o'clock the next 
morning the injury having occurred the previous 
afternoon. He was a model young man, of steady 
habits, industrious and quiet and well liked by 
every one who knew him. 



history of mcdonald county. 149 

Drowning Of Little Charley Clark. 

Another sad case of drowning occurred at 
the lower end of what is called Big Rock, at the 
southeast part of Pineville. On the afternoon 
of April 22, 1890, he dug a can of bait, took his 
pole and line and went fishing. He was quite 
a little boy to go out all alone, being only seven 
the fall before. But, as he and many other boys 
were in the habit of going no uneasiness was 
felt until he failed to come home to supper. 
Dark came on and still he did not appear. The 
alarm was given and a search for the lost boy 
was begun. In a short time his can of bait was 
found on a large slanting rock that reached 
down to the water, and his pole lying across it. 
It was evident he had set down on the rock 
where he lost his balance and slipped into the 
w^ater. The search for his body continued all 
through the night, but the water being muddy 
it was not found until nearly noon the next day. 
It had floated down a mile or more below town. 
Jim Brown, the same one who afterwards found 
the body of Lula Noel, was the first to discover 
it. 

A Tripple Drowning. 

One of the saddest tragedies that is mingled 
with the warp and woof of the history of our 



150 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

county, is the death of three boys by drowning-. 

On the 8, day of May, 1897, JohnReece, aged 
22, Harvy Reece, aged 19, Frank Reece, aged 
9, three brothers and James Moulton, a boy 17 
years old, were in a boat fishing in Elk River 
at the Bartley Bluff, a short distance below the 
residence of James Langley. They ran the 
boat to the left bank of the river on the opposite 
side from the bluff, where the water was compar- 
atively still, and about six feet deep, intending 
to land. The bow of the boat struck the bank 
with some force causing it to suddenly start 
back. The shock threw John Reece, who 
was standing, off his balance and he pitched head 
first into the water. As he came up, his brother 
Harvy and the Moulton boy reached out and 
caught him. This turned the boat over and 
threw all four of the boys into the water. The 
little Reece boy caught to the limb of a tree that 
hung over the water and clung to it until rescued. 

The older of the two Reece boys was a good 
swimmer and the other could swim some, but 
the Moulton boy could not swim at all. For 
some reason the skill of the two was unavailing 
and the three boys were soon lifeless on the 
pebbly bottom. 

A couple of men were fishing some 150 yards 
below and heard their cries for help. At first 
they thought they were hollowing for fun as 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 151 

^•as usual, but soon distinguished the tone of 
distress and ran to their assistance. They found 
the little boy still holding to the limb, and when 
they asked where the other boys were he said 
"There they are on the bottom of the river, 
drowned. ' ' They looked down in the clear water 
and there beheld the three dead bodies lying 
where the cruel hand of fate had rung down the 
curtain on the last tragic scene of their lives. 

The parties lived some two miles south 
of Coy. Jimmie was the son of N. B. Moulton 
and wife, being her only child. The two Reece 
boys were the sons of a widow whose husband 
had met a tragic death a few months before. 
A tree had blown down near his house, and part 
of the roots were still clinging to the ground. 
They were at work on the tree and had sawed 
the trunk into, when the stump settled back 
towards an upright position, catching Mr Reece, 
who was standing at its base, under it and 
crushing him almost beyond recognition. 

Burned To Death. 

The first of last week a sad and fatal accident 
occured about eight miles northeast of Pineville 
in which Mrs. Proctor was burnt to death. She 
was standing with her back to the fire place when 
her skirts caught fire Her two little girls ran 



152 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

to her assistance, but besides burning their hands 
both of them caught lire. A young hired man 
hearing their screams ran in and seeing the 
children on fire, tore their clothing off before 
they were injured. In the meantime Mrs. Proctor 
ran out doors, around the house and all over the 
yard until she dropped from exhaustion and died 
in a short time. Her clothing was entirely 
destroyed, and in many places her body burnt 
to a crisp. Mr. Proctor was away at the time 
visiting relatives in Ark. The corps was kept 
until he could return and attend the funeral. — 
McDonald County Republican, January 25, 1895. 

Death Of Lee Sellers. 

Wednesday afternoon between two and three 
o'clock Lee Sellers, one of the most prosperous 
and highly respected citizens of this county met 
with a tragical death near his home on Indian 
creek, about one mile east of Anderson. He and 
one of his sons were out in the hills loading a 
sawlog. They had placed the rope around it 
and were rolling it up with the team, when the 
rope gave way and the log rolled over Mr. 
Sellers and mashed him so that he died in a 
short time. The children, some of whom reside 
in the Territory, have all been notified, and the 
burial will take place at the Beaver Springs 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 153 

cemetery today. The deceased owned a large 
farm on Indian creek about a mile east of An- 
derson and was well fixed for a comfortable 
life. He leaves a wife and several children. — 
McDonald County Republican February 22, 1895. 

James Meranda Suicides. 

Yesterday afternoon James Meranda, a farmer 
who has been living near this place for the past 
twenty years, and for the last two years on Mrs. 
Chenoweth's place, one mile north of Pineville, 
committed suicide by shooting himself through 
the heart with a rifle gun of 44 caliber. Mr. 
Meranda 's wife died over two years ago, and 
he has been very despondent since, sometimes 
remarking that he thought of killing himself, 
but no one had any idea of his doing so. He 
had been in unusual low spirits for the last four 
or five days, but went about his work on the 
farm as usual, plowing until noon yesterday. 

Shortly after noon he took his gun and started 
toward his corn crib, looking back as he walked 
off. His oldest daughter aged 17 years, thinking 
from his actions there was something wrong, 
asked him where he w^as going, when he replied 
that he was going to the crib to shoot a rat. 
He then went on and got in the crib and shot 
himself as above stated. His daughter, as soon 



154 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

as hearing the report of the gun and him halloo, 
ran to the crib and found her father dying, with 
a bullet hole in his left breast, and his gun lying 
on one side of his body and the ramrod on the 
other, which goes to show that he used the ram- 
rod to push the trigger. Deceased leaves six 
children — five girls and one boy their ages 
ranging from 2 to 17 years. — Pineville News, 
August 4, 1886. 

A Double Suicide. 

Among the ancient residents of Pineville were 
George Casbeer and his wife. He was dissi- 
pated and they lived very unhapily together. 
At last, tired of their troubles, they decided to 
end their lives. She agreed that if he would 
get the whisky, she would mix the poison, and 
they would drink their last draught together. 
The liquor was procured, and on a Sunday even- 
ing they filled their goblets to the brim and 
drank them to the very dregs. They were soon 
discovered in their agony, and told what they 
had done and why, but refused to take any 
antidote. She died the next day and he at night 
a few hours later. 

Thus, in intense agony, ended the short trage- 
dy of their lives. To them, marriage had been 
a failure, the blossom of love had withered, and 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 155 

death came as a welcome messenger of peace. 
They left seven children who were taken care 
of by friends in Illinois. The above statement 
was furnished by a man who was an eye witness 
to the scene and heard them give their state- 
ments. 



156 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



CHAPTER X. 



SUMMARY JUSTICE. 



The Slickers. 

In connection with this subject it might be in 
order to mention the Slickers. In the early 
settlement of the county a custom was estab- 
lished of laying claim to certain designated 
tracts of land and holding it against all new 
comers. A man would pick out his location on 
some water course, build his cabin and mark 
out a tract of land coresponding in size with the 
extent of his enterprise. Some would be satis- 
fied with forty acres, others with eighty or a 
hundred, while a few ran into the thousands. 

When the government survey was made this 
land was reported vacant. But little of it was 
in cultivation, and many of the claims were 
marked only by the blazes on the trees or an 
occasional stake driven down. New settlers 
coming in would inquire at the land office and, 
finding the land vacant, would enter portions of 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 157 

it. These entries were opposed by the claim- 
ants and intimidation or open resistance used 
as occasion might require. As immigrants in- 
creased in number and their encroachments grew 
numerous, the claimants organized, and were 
called the Slickers. It was their province to 
see that all parties taking or attempting to take 
land claimed by an older settler were promi)tly 
waited on and induced to abandon the enterprise. 

This sentiment was quite strong and extended 
throughout the entire county and embraced all 
classes of our people. It did not entirely die out 
until some years after the war. There were a 
few instances where the party was taken out 
and whipped, a few were compelled to leave the 
county, and some who had entered land were 
forced to deed it to the claimant. 

One of the most noted cases was the contest 
between Mark Harmon and others. Harmon 
came to this county with considerable money 
and entered a line body of land on Indian Creek 
near the mouth of Elk Horn. Several years 
previous, Jonathan Blair had located near the 
present site of McNatt's Mill, and laid claim to 
a tract extending some two miles up and down 
the creek bottom. Harmon's entry cut a big 
slice out of Blair's claim and he was notified of 
that fact. However he had paid his money and 
proposed to hold the land. He was remonstrated 



158 HISTORY OP MCDONALD COUNTY. 

with in a friendly manner and then threatened, 
but without effect. At last one day some thirty 
or forty men came to his house bringing with 
them a justice of tlie peace and a deed to the 
land properly filled out, also a rope, and he was 
given his choice between executing the deed and 
wearing the halter. They told him that as a 
man they had no objection to him and did not 
desire to do him harm, but the land must be 
given up. Mr. Harmon and his wife signed and 
acknowledged the deed under protest and a few 
years later went into the U. S. court and had 
the conveyance set aside and his title re-estab- 
lished. 

The Pine War. 

This interesting reminiscence has almost 
passed from the memory of our people and, were 
it not recorded here, in a few more years would 
be numbered among the forgotten incidents of 
long ago. I asked an old gray-haired gentleman 
about it, and he replied that it happened when 
he was quite a small boy, and he did not know 
much about it. 

From the best information it has been possible 
to obtain it occurred in the very early settlement 
of the county and was practically over in 1845. 
Nearly all the lands in this county were govern- 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 159 

ment lands, and there were extensive pine forests 
in the hills bordering on the two Sugar creeks 
and extending from Pineville to the east side of 
the county. There was also, considerable pine 
lands along the river west of Pineville and ex- 
tending south to the Arkansas line. A number 
of saw mills were in operation manufacturing 
this pine timber. The United States marshals 
undertook to protect the timber. John B. King 
who operated a mill on Kings creek, and perhaps 
others, was arrested. Several were subpoened 
as witnesses. Mark Harmon was one of the 
leading spirits in favor of the prosecution, and 
had a few followers but people generally took 
the side of the mill men. 

They gathered together in groups and dis- 
cussed the matter, held meetings, passed res- 
olutions and organized for the purpose of in ev- 
ery way obstructing and, if occasion should re- 
quire, resisting the United States marshals. It 
was carried to such an extent that at Cassville 
a marshall wasrunclearoutof the state, seeking 
refuge at Bentonville, Arkansas. The leader 
of this resistance, a Cassville lawyer, was sent 
to jail at St. Louis under a charge of treason, 
but was eventually released. 

Of course the government eventually prevail- 
ed, but not until after much of the pine forests 
had been destroyed. 



160 history of mcdonald county. 

Annoyed By Petty Thieves. 

For several years after the close of the Avar 
the people in various parts of the county were 
more or less annoyed by petty theiving. It got 
so bad that it was never safe to turn hogs on 
the range which to many was the chief source 
of profit. The masts were generally good and 
the range so extensive that hogs grew and fatten- 
ed without other food. When the owners wanted 
meat they would usually kill direct from the 
mast, or feed a few weeks to harden the meat. 
The farmers on the narrow valleys who thus 
counted on supplying their own families and 
selling enough to provide other necessaries, 
when the time came to collect their hogs, were 
often unable to find more than a few carcasses 
where they had been shot in the timber and the 
best parts taken by the thieves. An occasional 
heifer or a fat cow would "come up missing" in 
the same mysterious manner. Various prose- 
cutions were instituted against suspected parties 
but few, if any, convictions were ever had. 

The people in the vicinities where these of- 
fenses were most common, finding the law did 
not afford them sufficient protection on account 
of the failure of the evidence, concluded to take 
the matter in their own hands. A few of the 
suspected parties were warned to leave the 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 161 

county. They were generally worthless char- 
acters that had temporarily settled in some 
remote ridge or hollow, and were without visible 
means of support. Sometimes a bundle of 
switches would be left with the note of warning. 
From 1882 to 1884 some three or four parties 
were whipped and a few others visited by a 
committee, but the offenders happened to be ab- 
sent and thus escaped. 

In 1883 old man Bird, who had settled on some 
land near James Tatum,s farm in Beaver val- 
ley, was taken out one night and severely whip- 
ped. Bird claimed the chastisement was ad- 
ministered for settling on the land, but the com- 
mittee said it was for appropriating his neigh- 
bor's swine without authority or due process 
of law. A man named Martin was subjected to 
a similar treatment. Also one Joy in the vi- 
cinity of Indian Springs was taken out one cold 
night and thoroughly dressed down. When 
turned loose he started off on a run and did not 
stop until he got to Pools Prarie in Newton 
county where he crawled into a straw stack and 
finished the night. The next morning the owner 
went out to the stack, and seeing a pair of boots 
sticking out of the straw rousted him out and 
asked if it wasnt a pretty cold birth. Joy replied 
*'If you'd been where I was last night, you 
would have thought it pretty d^ — n hot!" If he 



162 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

kept on at the rate at which he started, it is 
likely that Mr. Joy fried his pork a few weeks 
later at the camp fire which he kindled out of 
the north pole. There was much diiference of 
opinion among the people as to these proceedings 
and a persistent eifort was made to punish the 
parties who were engaged in these nightly ad- 
ministrations of "justice." Various persons 
were arrested and in one trial before a justice 
of the peace the evidence seemed conclusive 
that two of the parties held loaded pistols on 
the complainant while others did the whipping. 
At the discovery of this evidence, J. C. Cole, 
prosecuting attorney, asked the justice to dis- 
charge the jury and hold the defendants to an- 
swer for a felony. The justice sustained the 
motion and put the defendants under bond to 
await the action of the grand jury. Before that 
time arrived the complainants had moved away 
and the prosecutions were dismissed. 

While these matters were serious, and it is to 
be regretted that they, or the circumstances 
which led to them ever occured, there were 
many amusing incidents connected with them. 
It was during the progress of one of these trials 
that a witness swore that Mart Epperson was 
one of the parties that whipjDed him, giving as 
his reason for knowing who it w^as that he saw 
and identified Epperson at the time. To the 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 163 

surprise and consternation of his friends and 
attorneys Epperson remarked in a crowd. ' 'That 
feller swore to a d — ^n lie, for I had my coat 
turned wrong side out and a handkerchief over 
my face, and he couldn't see who it was." 

It was about this time that the Law and Order 
Brotherhood sprang into existence. It is said 
to have numbered over four hundred members 
and included many of the best citizens of our 
county. Its province was to aid in the enforce- 
ment of the law and it no doubt did much to 
put a cheek to the perpetration of crime in our 
county. 

These comparatively mild applications were 
followed later by the killing of Garland Mann 
in the Neosho jail and the hanging of Irwin Grubb 
and Canada Bill. After these events murders 
were much less frequent and the petty thieving 
almost entirely ceased. Prosecution in our courts 
have been much more effective, convictions 
having been the rule rather than tiie exception, 
as before, and our people almost universally 
rejoice that there is no necessity for further 
invoking mob violence. 

Burning of The Old Jail. 

In February, 1888, while old man Bird and a 
couple of other prisoners were confined in the 



164 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

old jail at Pineville, on a conviction for stealing 
chickens and geese, it took fire and burnt down. 
The jail was a log structure with a door on top 
through which ingress and egress was made. 
The floor was composed of three layers of hewn 
logs, the second laid cross-wise of the first and 
the third across the second, the three layers be- 
ing about eighteen inches thick. When the fire 
got started down into the cracks of the floor 
there was no chance to get water to it and no 
way to tear it up. The people of Pineville and 
vicinity turned out almost to a man and worked 
all day carrying and hauling water trying to 
save the old building. While they were thus at 
work the prisoners, who had been removed to 
the court house, stood at the windows and jeer- 
ed at the men at work trying to extinguish the 
fire. 

Their day of jubilee, however, did not last 
through the night. Tired and wet and muddy, 
the men were not in a mood to be ridiculed with 
inpugnity, besides it was thought the prisoners 
had fired the building with hopes of making 
their escape. 

The prisoners were placed in charge of J. F. 
Fulkerson, constable of the township, to guard 
through the night. Along in the early part of 
the night some one called to him to come down 
stairs, that Kenney, the jailer, wanted to come 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 165 

up. He came down, and the moment he o^^ened 
the door he was seized by a couple of men. 
Others went up and got the prisoners who were 
just getting into bed. They were taken off up 
tlie ridge northwest of town a short distance, 
Fulkerson being taken by the guards along a 
few yards back of the crowd. He fired his pistol 
a few times to give the alarm, but the citizens 
who saw the mob either thought the prisoners 
were escaping, or did not feel disposed to in- 
terfere. Kenney, the Jailer, followed in dead 
earnest to recover the prisoners, but he missed 
the way and went the wrong road, running until 
he was entirely out of breath and exhausted. 

The prisoners were very much frightened 
and thought they were going to be hung. Old 
man Bird said to them in a very solemn and im- 
pressive voice. "Do you know thereis ahell?" 
One of the mob replied, "yes by, — and we are 
going to give you a taste of it. ' ' When they 
reached a spot that was convenient and suffi- 
ciently secluded, they halted and prepared to 
administer the whipping. Old man Bird was 
asked if he had not been whipped once before. He 
replied that he had for preem]3ting a piece of 
land. He was then told he could take another 
for preempting a goose. He was then given a 
severe whipping, the shreds of his shirt being 
left on the withes that were used. One of the 



166 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

boys was ^iven a few licks, and the other one 
excused with a reprimand. They were then 
turned loose with an injunction to leave the 
county. Fulkerson was also discharged and 
sent back to town. The three prisoners found 
their way to W. R. Barnes' house, where they 
were supplied with shoes, and went on to A. J. 
Watkins ' . He gave them a firebrand and directed 
them to a vacant house, but they failed to find 
it and built up a fire and staid in the woods all 
night. They suffered intensely through the night 
and the next morning they returned to Watkins ' 
nearly frozen, the weather being very cold. 
They were given breakfast and then went to 
their homes. 

Bird and his family remained in the county 
for some time swearing eternal vengeance, but 
no attempt was made to execute their threats. 
An effort was made by the next grand jury to 
investigate the matter, but no one knew any- 
thing until after the case was barred by limi- 
tation. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 167 



CHAPTER XI. 

War Stories. 

The history of this county during the Civil 
War is one that is difficult to write, and about 
which there is much difference of opinion and 
many conflicting reports. The inhabitants of 
the county up to that time were principally 
from the southern states, and a majority con- 
sidered that their interests were with the south- 
ern people. At the same time there was a 
strong Union element among them who resisted 
secession until the war was begun, when they 
cast their fortunes with the Confederacy. There 
was still another element, largely in the minority 
in this county, that remained loyal to the last. 
Many of these were from the southern states, 
and the animosities engendered between them 
and their old neighbors were bitter to an ex- 
treme known only in war times and between 
citizens of those states. It was a time that 
truly "tried men's souls." It laid bare to the 
])ublic gaze the true character of men and re- 



168 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

vealed them in all their moral corruption or noble 
humanity as could be done under no other con- 
ditions. The results of this ordeal were quite 
the opposite to what in many cases were ex- 
pected. Men who had been regarded as timid 
became the bravest of soldiers. Some w^ho 
stood well in the community were the first to 
avail themselves of the opportunity to rob and 
plunder, while others who were regarded as 
rather "tough," became prominent in their 
efforts to restrain violence. Those who entered 
the regular service, as a rule, became honorable 
soldiers and conducted themselves in a manner 
becoming civilized warfare. The deeds of 
cruelty were generally the work of bands or- 
ganized either for plunder or revenge. 

The acts of heroism, if all recounted, would 
fill a volume much larger than this. There are 
many instances where the ties of friendship and 
love of humanity rose far above the passion and 
hatred of war. Time and again, both Union 
and Confederate men and women have taken 
their lives in their hands, as it were, and gone 
at the dead hour of night for miles over these 
lonley hills and valleys, to warn men of the 
opposite side who they knew were at home to 
visit their families, of approaching danger. 
Often the warning came in time and the intended 
victim would vanish in the darkness and ad- 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 169 

jacent thicket as he heard the clatter of theap- 
IDroaching foe. Sometimes the sound of shots 
and shrieks of women and children greeted the 
ears of the messenger before he reached his 
goal and inscribed on his or her heart the words, 
*'too late." 

The military operations of this section of 
country were so connected with the movements 
of the opposing armies that it becomes more a 
matter of general than local history and it is 
not the province of this book to detail the same. 
A few incidents of the war which are true be- 
yond a jjeradventure will be more interesting 
to our people than an account of the actions of 
the troox)s. 

As an example of the feelings which often ex- 
i sted between Union and Confederates the follow- 
ing is given which was told the writer several 
years a,go by the party himself. A raid was 
made into this county by a detachment of Kan- 
sas troops and among a number of prisoners 
captured was E. Caulk, since deceased, who 
lived on Patterson creek near the state line. 
A good deal of bad worlc liad been done by 
bushwhackers and feeling ran h i g h. T h e 
prisoners were taken to Baxter Springs and 
kei)t under close guard waiting to be identified, 
and their fate determined. When questioned, 
Mr Caulk told the officer he was ii Confederate, 



170 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

but did not belong- to the army and was opposed 
to the action of the bushwhackers. He was 
trying to stay at home and attend to his own 
affairs. After a few days confinement, a couple 
of Union men who were acquainted with him 
came into camp. When recognized he knew 
his fate was in their hands but as there had 
never been any particular friendship between 
them he was in doubt as to the result, In a short 
time he was called up before the commander 
and discharged with a pass home and provisions 
for the journey. The two men had stated that 
he was an honest, inoffensive citizen and they 
were willing to vouch for his good conduct. 

Death Of Major Smith. 

A pathetic, but pretty story, is related of the 
death of Major Smith of the Confederate army. 
Moses Woodman Smith, a native of Maine, was 
teaching school at Pineville in 1861. He was 
boarding at the home of C. B. Walker, a staunch 
Union man. He and Mr. Walker's daughter, 
Miss Jennie, now Mrs. Dan Harmon, were en- 
gaged to be married. When the war broke out, 
Mr. Smith raised a company and entered the 
Confederate service. Soon afterward he was 
promoted to the rank of Major. The attachment 
between the two young people, and the ties of 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 171 

friendship between him and her family were 
not in the least severed by their different views 
in regard to the war. On many occasions an 
opportunity was afforded in which one could 
shield or protect the other, and such chances 
were never neglected. At one time while he was 
visiting at the Walker home the Federals made 
a raid on the town. A brother of the Major's, 
suspecting he was there called and asked to see 
him. He begged of Jennie to reveal his hiding 
place, promising that he only wanted to visit 
him as a brother, and would not betray her 
secret. His apjieal was denied, and after all 
danger was over the Major come down from the 
garrett, and in a short time was with his com- 
mand. 

The Walker family finding it unsafe to live 
here moved to New^tonia where there was a 
Federal post. 

When General Price made his raid through 
this part of the state. Major Smith had another 
opportunity to visit his aftianced wife, and made 
the Walker home his headquarters. When the 
Union forces sent to retake the place were 
advancing, and the battle of Newtonia began, 
which was some distance from the town, she 
begged him not to go into the fight. He promised 
her he would not, but when he rode out and 
saw the battle raging, his zeal overcame him. 



172 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

and he was soon in the midst of the contending 
forces He was wounded, and when found on 
the field, was taken to the house of Mr. Weems 
an Uncle to Miss. Walker. Hearing of his con- 
dition, she first obtained the consent of her 
parents and went to take care of him. One 
bullet had struck just above the knee injuring 
the artery. The attending surgeon informed 
him that a slight aggravation of the wound 
would sever the artery, and produce death, at 
the same time stating that amputation of the 
limb was the only way to save his life. He 
stated that he would rather take his chances 
than to loose his limb. Here he was nursed by 
Jennie, she frequently singing to him his 
favorite song, "A Soldier of the Legion lay 
dying." But there was no "Lack of woman's 
nursing, " no "Dearth of woman's tears, " for 
kind hands and tender hearts, all true and loyal 
to their country, rendered every assistance in 
their power. Some five or six days afterward 
the wound sloughed into the artery and he bled 
to death in a few moments. 

Escaped on Shelby's Horse. 

When that gallant Confederate cavalryman, 
General Shelby, made his raid on Neosho and 
captured it, a considerable number of prisoners 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 173 

were taken. Among the rest were David and 
John Harmon. These two men had incurred 
the enmity of the Confederates by the active 
part they had taken in the local military affairs. 
When the town was taken David Harmon dropped 
his two revolvers in the weeds near the court 
house, and concealed them. 

He was dressed in a loose homespun hunting 
shirt and trousers, that very much resembled 
the Confederate gray. While the Union prison- 
ers were being marched to the court room on the 
upper floor of the court house, he says one of 
the guards set his gun down and went for a 
drink of water. Harmon watched his opportu- 
nity and picking up the gun began walking the 
beat in the place of the guard. A moment later 
General Shelby and the sheriff of the county 
rode up, and leaving their horses, started to the 
court house. The general's horse had been 
trained to stand without being tied. As the two 
men passed near Harmon, he had his hat pulled 
down, and his head turned to avoid rocognition 
by the sheriff" who knew' him, and kept leisurely 
walking his beat. He heard the sheriff remark 
as they passed by that he wanted to go up stairs 
and see if any of those Harmons were there, if 
so, they had lived long enough. They passed 
into the court house and Dave walked to where 
he had dropped his pistols, picked them up, and 



174 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

mounted Shelby's horse. The other guards, 
having seen the general just pass, supposed he 
had been sent to take charge of the animal, and 
made no protest. He rode unconcernedly down 
the street, past the guards and into the woods, 
before the ruse was discovered. The horse 
was a splendid animal, and carried him safe 
from all pursuit into the Federal lines. 

His brother, John, was placed with a few 
other prisoners in the back room of an old house, 
the guards remaining in the front room. There 
was a door to the room in which the prisoners 
were kept, but it had been locked. In the night, 
and while the guards engaged in a game of cards 
in the front room by the light of the tire, Har- 
mon silently unlocked the door with an old 
key he happened to have in his pocket, and 
escaped in the darkness of the night. He eluded 
all the guards and pickets, and before daylight 
came was several miles away. 

How Judge Nutting Came to Join 
The Confederate Army. 

The following account will not only be of 
interest as a personal reminiscence, but is a fair 
example of the way in which many of our citizens 
came to enter the service of either army. 

When the war broke out George Nutting 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 175 

lived on what is now the Royal Harrington 
farm on Buffalo, which he had owned for several 
years. Mr. Nutting* died in February, 1862, 
and his wife, step-mother to the Nutting child- 
ren, in March following. Wash, , the oldest son, 
had enlisted in the Union army, state troops, 
and M. L. (Bud) was at Neosho suffering from 
wounds received the previous summer, and J. 
W., then a boy of fifteen years, was left to look 
after the farm. His sister Martha (Mrs. D. H. 
Mathews) had charge of the family of five little 
children. Their father had been a Union man, 
but tried to remain neutral. 

John had raised a crop that year of twenty- 
five acres of corn and about the same of oats. 
The oats were cut and he was binding them while 
damp early in the morning and late at night. 
One evening after working until dark he went 
home, and in a few moments a squad of some 
fifteen or twenty men rode up and wanted oats 
for their horses. They went to the field, got 
what they wanted and the leader gave him a 
gold dollar. They camped for the night but 
left before daylight. The next morning while 
he was out binding oats a company of Federal 
troops under Lieutenant Brown came along. 
The Lieut, called Nutting out to the road where 
the following conversation took place: 

"Who were those fellows you fed last night?" 



176 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

"I don't know who they were." 

"Yes you do; don't lie to me. " 

I don't know; they had on Federal clothes." 

"I know you; what are you?' 

"Nothing." 

"Ill make somethingout of you. I say, what 
are you?" 

"If we could have the Union like it was, I'd 
be for the Union. " 

At this the Lieutenant drew his pistol, cock- 
ed it, and placing the muzzle against the boy's 
breast, hissed between his teeth, "I say, what 
are you?" 

"I'm Union." 

"Go back to your work, and if I catch you a 

hundred yards off the place, your scalp's mine. " 

The company rode on, and Nutting returned 

to his work. It was not long before he heard 

the rattle of small arms. The two forces had 

met at the Ford of Buffalo a short distance 

above where George Keenan now lives, and a 

sharp engagement took place. 

Nutting felt that he might be blamed for any 

disaster to the Union troops so he ran home, 

got a shot gun and pistol which he had kept 

hidden, and secreted himself on the hill above 

the house. In about two hours the troops came 

back. After a short stop at the house, and not 

finding him, they went on up the creek. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 177 

John came down in a few moments and was 
standing in the hallway when he heard a man 
coming from the field. As he turned the corner 
of the house Nutting covered him with his re- 
volver. The fellow threw up his hand and said 
"Don't shoot, I am a friend. "' He said he was 
ci — n hungry, and stated that his horse had been 
killed in the fight and he was going to Jasper 
county and steal the best horse they had. His 
name was Yocum, a son of the commander of 
the Confederate squad. Nutting saddled his 
horse and left that evening. He was able to 
slip in home a few times on a few moments visit 
but in a short time enlisted at Beaver Springs 
under Major Smith and served in the Confederate 
army until the close of the war. 

A Scrap At Enterrise. 

In the late summer or early fall of 1863 a 
Confederate regiment under Col. Coffee was 
camped at Enterprise. They were attacked 
by the First Ark. Cavalry and a pretty hot 
fight ensued. The Ark. troops had two small 
field pieces which they brought into play and 
the Confederates retreated to Scott's mill where 

the fight ended. 

Removal Of The Hopkins Family. 

Benjamin Hopkins and family, staunch Union 



178 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

people, lived on what is now known as the 
Polk farm which is a mile above Tiff City on 
Buffalo Creek. Matters grew pretty warm for 
them and they could neither safely remain at 
home, nor take their effects away. 

Early in the spring* of 1862 a detachment under 
Major Hubbard was sent from Neosho to escort 
them to the Federal lines. They had a couple 
of six-pounders w^ith them which they brought 
into use to disperse squads of men who had 
assembled on the hills with a view to firing on 
the escort should they collect a sufficient body. 
Daniel Dobbs, Jim Dobbs Fayette Price, and 
perhaps a few others were on the point of the 
bluff near the old Camp Shed, when a few shots 
from the cannon w^ere fired at them. Of course 
they hustled out of range. As they went on up 
the creek they saw about forty men under Is- 
bell on the hill back of W. C. Price's house. 
The cannon were turned loose on them and some 
fifteen or tw^enty shots were fired. The Confed- 
erates dispersed without firing a shot and the 
escort returned to Neosho unharmed. 

A Fatal Mistake. 

In the summer of 1862 Major Doubleday with 
a part of the 2nd Ohio was sent on a scout down 
Buffalo creek and the w^est part of this county. 
They w^ere making prisoners of every man they 



HISTORY OP MCDONALD COUNTY. 179 

came to. As they went down Buffalo they capt- 
ured two Wetherspoon boys who were at work 
in the field. The scout went on down to the 
river and came back the next day. JohnDobbs 
and M. h. Nutting had taken to the brush with 
their horses the day before, not from any hostile 
feelings towards the Union troops but through 
fear of being taken prisoners or loosing their 
horses. After the troops had gone up the road 
and, as they supposed were out of the way, they 
came down to dinner. Hearing the Weather - 
spoon boys had been released, they started up 
to their place to see how they had been treated. 
A short distance above the upper end of the 
Nutting farm, they were suddenly confronted by 
a detachment of the troops. Here they made a 
fatal mistake. Had they surrendered they would 
have been examined and released in a short time. 
But they attempted to escape. They ran down 
the level road some two hundred yards and were 
leading the troops, but there they left the road 
and started up the point of the hill. This checked 
their speed and their pursuers ran up to the foot 
of the hill and tired. Dobbs fell dead and Nutting 
received a minnie ball at the left of his back 
bone and it was cut out in front of his stomach; 
one ball entered the back part of his hip and 
was taken out in front, a third gave him a flesh 
w^ound in the wrist. In a moment or two the 



180 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

Captain came up and when he looked at hhn 
exclaimed: "Why that boy lives back there 
where I got dinner; They are as fine people as 
I ever met!" He expressed regret at the 
wounding of Bud, and spoke in very high terms 
of the family. Bud was afterwards taken to 
Neosho where he eventually recovered and is 
now living near Splitlog. 

Death of Timothy Wimpey. 

The Wimpey boys had quite a varied career 
during the war. Mr Wimpey lived on Beaver 
valley near the mouth of the long hollow that 
runs up to Splitlog. One night the old gentle- 
man and a small boy liad gone up the fence a 
sliort distance from the house to look after some 
stock. A band of bushwhackers happened along 
and took his hat, coat, shoes and pants, and left 
the old man to return to the bosom of his family 
with the cool April breeze chanting requiems 
through the flapping tail of his nether and only 
garment. 

Two of his sons were conscripted into the 
Southern Army. One made his escape in a short 
time, but the other was afterwards killed in a 
battle down near the Mississippi River. 

Tim was but a boy and remained in this county. 
He had been reported to be in the habit of giving 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 181 

aid and information to the bushwhackers. The 
following account of his death and the cause 
given in the report was furnished by C. D. Wim- 
pey, a brother to the deceased. 

Tim had been at McRae's helping the women 
kill hogs. It was along in the evening and he 
and the women were snowballing, when a party 
of Indian scouts under Capt. Stevens came along 
and took him prisoner. They went on down 
the creek about two miles where they halted 
and the Captain ordered two Indians to shoot 
him. He was shot twice in the head and then 
stabbed. 

His brothers, Jim and William, both loyal 
men, made complaint to General Blunt and the 
matter was investigated. Capt. Stevens reported 
that on coming down the creek they had captured 
Nathaniel McRae, who convinced him that he, 
McRae, was a good, loyal citizen, but told him 
that Tim Wimpey was a bad bushwhacker. He 
said they would find him on down the creek 
helping some women kill hogs. He was but a 
boy, but very dangerous. 

The reason given for McRae, s animositj^ is 
that he attempted to steal Wimpey 's horse some 
time before that and Tim would have killed him 
had his gun not missed fire. 



182 history of mcdonald county. 

Miscellaneous Incidents. 

The lirst Union man killed in the war is said 
to have been William Hamlin, who was shot by 
Rice Robinson, in April, 1861. Mark Harmon 
and Russell Spencer were killed early in 1862 
on account of their unswerving loyalty to the 
government. These were followed later by many 
murders and depredations committed by the 
Confederates, generally bands of bushwhackers. 

The Union people suffered the most severely 
during the raid of the Confederates in 1861 and 
1862 but were never safe until after the close of 
war. The number of Union men killed in this 
county has never been fully ascertained. 

Bands of Union scouts were constantly making 
raids through this county and a spirit of retal- 
iation was often manifested. A number of 
men were shot down in retaliation for like of- 
fenses perpetrated on their friends, and many 
more killed with arms as bushwhackers. Up- 
wards of forty men of this county were thus 
killed during the four years of the war. This 
does not include those killed in battle, or in 
actual service. 

Nearly every man and boy able to carry a gun 
was in the service on one side or the other. 
More than a hundred and fifty from this county 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 183 

served in the Confederate army, while a hundred, 
or more, were enlisted in the United States or 
State service for the Union. 

Among the leading bushwhackers was Bill 
Hinson, who burnt the court house at Pineville 
in 1863. He or some of his gang also burnt 
Hugh L. Testerman's house and the residence 
of C. B. Walker. He was afterwards shot at 
Neosho. 

On the Union side, Lieut. Christian was a 
terror to the evil doers. He was possessed of 
great bravery and his expeditions into this 
county were very much dreaded by his foes. 
He was afterwards killed and scalped by the 
Confederates. Col. Kelso was the most noted 
Union scout in this section of the state. He 
made many dangerous and daring expeditions, 
and became an object of equal dread and hatred 
to the bushwhackers. He however escaped 
unharmed and after serving a term in Congress 
after the close of the war, went to the Rocky 
Mountains where he made quite a fortune. 

A detatchmentof Prices army were camped 
near Pineville in October 1861. 

Hugh Testerman had quite a lot of apples in 
his orchard to which the soldiers freely helped 
themselves. Mrs. Testerman, his first wife, gath- 
ered a lot of the apples and put them away 
near the house. A few of the soldiers got after 



184 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

these one day, and she promptly ordered them 
away. One of them refused to obey and was 
proceeding to help himself w^hen she shot him, 
inflicting a dangerous wound. The fellow was 
laid up for some time, but it is believed that he 
finally got well. 

This p u t a check on the apple stealing, 
but came very near costing "Uncle Hugh" his 
life. The comardes of the wounded man seized 
Mr. Testerman and would have killed him, but 
the Confederate commander ordered his release 
and placed a guard to protect his property. 

In the early part of the war Col. Shields of 
Southwest City, recently deceased, was taken 
prisoner by a company of Kansas troops and 
was about to be shot when John Martin of Pine- 
ville, a Union man, secured his release. 

On another occasion J. P. LaMance, who at 
that time held a commission in the Confederate 
service, was on the point of being executed by 
some Union troops, when John V. Hargrove 
interfered and saved his life. As an officer 
Mr. LaMance had been very lenient towards 
Union men, and did his utmost to save their lives 
and property. Afterwards, when the control 
of this county had shifted to the other side, 
his kindness was remembered by h i s o 1 d 
neighbors. 

On June 23, 1862, there w^as a skirmish at 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 185 

Pineville between the Second Wisconsin Cav- 
alry and the Confederates under Major Russell. 
The latter were defeated, with the loss of several 
prisoners and considerable property. 

At another time the Federal army was advan- 
cing down the valley towards Pineville and a 
detatchment was sent in advance down the ridge. 
They planted four cannon on the point of the 
hill north of Testerman's house and threw a 
number of shells over the town and in the bottom 
across the river where the Price farm now is. 
The Confederates had retreated a short time 
before, and the Union army passed through and 
went on up Little Sugar. 

In August, 1863, there was a sharp engage- 
ment in the bottom just across the river from 
Pineville between Col. Coffee with about 500 
Confederates and a portion of the Sixth Mo. 
Cavalry. Coffee lost quite a number wounded 
and prisoners and much of his munitions. 

Jim Cowan reports a little fight on Granny's 
Branch in which he was a participant. He was 
with a company of Union soldiers who were out 
on a scout. Some three or four were some dis- 
tance in advance when they were suddenly fired 

on by fifteen or twenty of the enemy. A running 
fight ensued, the balance of the party coming up 
in a short time. Pour or five of the Confederates 
were wounded but no one was hurt on the other 
side. 



186 I HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

M. N. LaMance had a very narrow escape 
from death at the hands of some Kansas troops. 
They took hhn prisoner at his home in Pineville, 
he being then a mere boy, and had the rope 
around his neck to hang him. His mother ran 
into the crowd and begged for his life. For 
some time she was repelled and every effort but 
force was used to induce her to leave. At last 
some one set fire to their house and, pointing 
to it told her to go and save it. She refused, 
saying, -'No, the house may burn, but I must 
save my boy. ' ' This touched the hard hearts 
of his would be executioners and tliey went and 
extinguished the fire and then released the boy. 
This was the principal cause of his joining the 
Southern army which he did soon afterwards. 

A Vendetta. 

The following story of vengeance being meet- 
ed out to the perpetrators of a crime is related 
as told by one who claims to know the facts 
and vouches for the tt-uth of the statements. 

As has been before related, Mark Harmon 
was killed by a band of men early in 1862 for 
being a loyal man. He had been away and was 
on his way home when he was met by a possee 
of nineteen men. Knowing that his life had 
been threatened, he took refuge behind a tree 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 187 

and determined to sell his life as dearly as pos- 
sible. His enemies without exposing themselves 
gradually formed a circle around the tree and 
soon brought him down with their rifles. 

His son Dan was in California, but David and 
John were hei'e in the Southwest. Besides his 
sons Mr. Harmon had many friends among whom 
was Col. Kelso, who determined that his murder 
should not go unavenged. They made enquiry 
in the neighborhood and ascertained from dif- 
ferent women that a band of nineteen men were 
in the neighborhood that day, a few of whom 
they knew. Not long afterwards one of these 
men was taken prisoner some two or three 
counties east of here. He would have been sum- 
marily dealt with, but Harmon's friends request- 
ed that he be delivered to them. They took him 
off some distance from the camp and told him 
they would give him one chance for his life. 

If he would give the names of all the party 
that l?:illed Mark Harmon, they would turn him 
loose and not pursue him until he had an hour's 
start. If they caught him after that they would 
kill him. He accepted their terms, gave the 
names of the other eighteen and made his escape. 
He went east and joined the Federal army and 
some time afterwards was shot for insubordi- 
nation. 

A careful and systematic investigation was 



188 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

then made and the truth of his statement as to 
the gnilty parties fully verified. From that 
day they were a- doomed set of men. For three 
years their pursuers hung on their trail, neither 
giving nor asking mercy. Before the close of 
the war seventeen of the band were killed. One 
man by the name of Adams went to Texas soon 
after Harmon's death and is said to be the only 
one of them who escaped. On the other hand 
it is claimed that there were two living in Texas 
after the war. 

The incidents of the cruel war might be ex- 
tended indefinitely, but the foregoing are suf- 
ficient to give to the rising generation an idea 
of what our people on both sides did and suffered 
during the four years of the Great Civil War. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 189 



CHAPTER XII. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 



The July Flood. 

Pineville News, July 19, 1883.— 

Last Saturday was a day that will long be 
remembered by the citizens of the Southwest as 
the occasion of the heaviest rainfall ever wit- 
nessed in this county. The rain here began 
about daylight Saturday morning and continued 
during the entire day, occasionally abating only 
to come again with increased fury, until the whole 
face of the earth seemed one solid sheet of water. 
The damage done in McDonald county is almost 
incalculable. The roads are washed out until 
in many places it is impossible to pass with 
wagons, while farmers who live along the 
various water courses in the county, have suf- 
fered, in many instances, irreperable loss, their 
fences having been w^ashed aw^ay and growing 
crops overflowed and washed up until it is 
impossible for them to mature into anything like 
a medium yield. 

The Cow Skin river at this place was three 



190 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

feet higher than ever known by the oldest citi- 
zens, and some estimates place it five feet higher 
than in 1872. 

Among those who have lost most heavily, 
commencing at Jasper Brown's saw mill on Big 
Sugar Creek, is the school district in which the 
mill was located, lost the lumber that it had 
bought to build a new school house, while many 
individuals lost small amounts of lumber they 
had had sawed and left stacked in the yard. 
The farmers along down the creek lost all their 
fences that were on the bottoms. I. H. Prater 
who lives on what is known as the St. John 
farm says there were 10,000 rails washed away 
on that farm and fifty acres overflowed. The 
water rose until it stood three inches deep in 
Abraham Price's house, and the entire bottom 
below was submerged. J. H. Hannah's saw 
mill was washed away, also all his saw logs and 
a lot of lumber. The Langley boys lost 1,000 bu. 
of old corn they had penned up near the river. 
Pleas Manning lost nearly all of his wheat, as 

did Judge Shambaugh. It is estimated that 
ten thousand dollars would not repay the dam- 
ages done on the three farms belonging to 
Messers Manning, Langley and Shambaugh. 

The damages on Indian and Buffalo creeks 
were equally as great as that on the other 
streams mentioned. Taking all together $150- 
000 would not more than replace the damage 
done in the county. 



history of mcdonald county. 191 

Hidden Treasures. 

During the war, Asberry Carter, a single 
man twenty five or thirty j^ears of age, was one 
of the residents of Pineville. He was possessed 
of considerable means, in cash which he kept 
buried at various places in the vicinity, frequent- 
ly moving it. J. H. Moffett informs me that he 
saw one place near where Mr. Foley now lives, 
w^here Carter had dug up his money. At another 
time Mr. Moffett saw where he had dug it up 
from between two oaks or black jacks on the 
south side of the river near where Abe Price 
now lives. It is also reported that it was once 
buried in what is now Neff 's field. The amount 
is $2,600, about |1,900 in gold, the remainder, 
I believe, all in silver. 

One day in 1862 or 1863, Carter w^ent down the 
river to Thomas Bradley's, who lived about 
two and one-half miles below Pineville on what 
is now^ known as the Bonebrake farm. While 
there a couple of Indians came along and he and 
Bradley traded, or talked of trading hats or 
some other small article with them. One of the 
Indians got hold of a handkerchief of Carter's 
w^hich he did not wish to part with. He snatch- 
ed it from the Indian's hand w^hereupon the In- 
dian shot him dead. 



192 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

As Mr. Carter had never revealed to any one 
the place where his money was buried, it re- 
mains a secret to this day. Some think it is on 
the bluff east of Mrs. Yonce's residence. Oth- 
ers say it was down the river bottom not far 
from the grave yard. Others think it is near 
the school house. For many years after the 
war hundreds of searches were made, and every 
spot that indicated that the soil had been bro- 
ken was dug up and examined. As late as the 
summer of 1895 an old gentleman from Kansas 
thought he had the place located. He was seen 
day after day near the school house a few yards 
in front of the dwelling of the writer stepping 
off the ground first one way and then another, 
as if carefully measuring the locality. After 
several days surveying he located the place at 
the root of a small tree, claiming the money had 
been hidden in a hollow stump at that point. 

Taking a few men into his confidence, he re- 
paired there one night with pick and shovel and 
made a search. They ascertained the fact that 

the tree was growing from an old stump that 
had practically rotted away, but no money was 
found. 

Thus ended the last, as all former searches 
had ended, in disappointment, and the fortune 
of Asberry Carter still lies hidden near our lit- 
tle town, perhaps within a stone's throw of the 
home of some family who are suffering for the 
comforts of life. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 193 



Henry Shell's Money. 

Henry Schell, father of the several men of 
that name who now live in this county, was one 
of the oldest settler of Mountain township. By 
his thrift and industry he had not only acquired 
a good farm, but had considerable money which 
he kept about the place. When the war came 
up he kept his money buried as a precaution 
against robbers which infested the county. The 
exact amount is not known, but is suspected to 
be something over $300. On July 11, 1863, Mr. 
Schell was killed by some Union scouts who 
were on a raid in this section of the state. He 
had never revealed to any one the place where the 
money was secreted. After the war was over 
the family felt that they would be safe in pos- 
session of it, and began to search for it. Every 
nook and corner of the premises and buildings 
was hunted over time and again. The garden 
was plowed several times and every particle of 
dirt examined, but years passed by without any 
return for their labor. Finally some of the 
money was found in an old stump, the amount 
not remembered. One day an arrangement had 
been made for all the interested parties to meet 
and continue the search. None came but Henry 
and Jessee Schell, two of the sons. They went 



194 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

to an old stable that was about rotted down and 
concluded to search there. On digging down 
by one of the logs they found two hundred and 
fifty odd dollars. Of the amount found $112 was 
in gold, the balance in silver. There is one 
package of fifty dollars that has never been 
found. Among the money found in the stable 
was a 1-frank piece, a 37 1-2 cent piece and one 
counterfeit 50 cent piece. Phillip Schell still 
has these as keepsakes which he prizes very 
highly. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 195 



A Wolf story. 



« 



N. C. Stafford and J. H. Cowan, both re- 
spectable citizens of Cyclone township, relate 
quite an interesting adventure with black 
wolves. When the war ended they, with a 
few others returned to Sugar creek and all but 
Stafford went down to Jack Hampton's, he be- 
ing the only man then left in that vicinity. A 
turkey hunt had been planned for the night and 
the party were to meet about dark for that 
purpose. Stafford, instead of going down to 
Hampton's, went up to the Stafford premises. 
He found the timber all on fire and the buildings 
burning. On his way up he soon heard the 
sniff of a wolf. Soon another and another, 
and before he reached where the stables were on 
fire they were howling within a few yards and be- 
coming more numerous. He went on to where 
the dwelling was on fire, but the pack grew 
more numerous and daring, so he made his way 
a short distance down the hill to an old log 
building, which had been used as a school house. 
He took refuge in this from which he was rescued 
in a short time by the party who were to meet 
him at the Stafford place to hunt turkeys. 



196 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

There was an abundance of game before the 
war but during that four years it was practical- 
ly unmolested and increasefd in great abundance. 
The woods were full of turkeys and it was an 
easy matter to find their roosting places and 
slip up and shoot them in the night. This was 
the principal way of killing them by some 
hunters. Such was the plan for the evening 
in question, and they proceeded in quest of the 
game. Tlie wolves, however w e re turkey 
hungry too, and followed the party, keeping in 
the darlv so as to be out of danger of their rifles. 
Plenty of roosts were found and many shots 
were fired, but in every instance where the 
turkey fell more than a few yards from the 
hunters, it was grabbed by a wolf and carried 
away before they could get to it. Only get- 
ting three turkeys during the night out of per- 
haps as many dozen, the wolves getting the 
balance. There were a number of dogs along, 
but after one or two ventures, they could not 
be driven from the feet of their master. 



history of mcdonald county. 197 

Adventure With a Deer. 

N. C. Stafford and J. H. Cowan recount 
an adventure with a deer that for a time looked 
quite serious for the parties engaged. They 
were out hunting and came up with a buck 
which one of them had wounded where the dogs 
had caught it in a deep hole in the creek. Mr. 
Cowan caught it by one horn and pulled it along 
the drift to the shore where they threw it on 
its back and prepared to cut its throat. Staf- 
ford drew his long hunting knife, but as the 
cold steel touched the deer's throat it struck 
Stafford's hand with its hind foot peeling the 
skin from his wrist to his knuckles, while the 
knife whizzed away and stuck in the ground 
several yards distant. This left them unarmed 
and they coQld neither hold on nor let go with 
safety, but they finally stunned it with rocks 
so it could be finished with a knife. These two 

men for some tiiree or four years after the war 
were engaged in hunting most of the time. A 
favorite method of kiling deer was by "shining 
their eyes'", as it was called. The two would 
hunt together afetr night, one carrying a torch 
while the other carried the gun. The deer 
would stand and look at the light as though in 
wonder, while the hunter would take aim be- 
tween its glistening orbs and bring it down. 
Besides deer and turkey, they would occasion- 
ally get a bear or panther. 



198 HISTORY OP MCDONALD COUNTY. 

Capturing A Bear. 

A few years before the war a large black bear 
on several occasions was seen to take refuge 
in a cave at the forks of Granny's branch, 
where is now Joe Mustine's field near Cyclone. 
Numerous attempts were made to get him out, 
but without success. One or more parties started 
to enter the cave and kill or drive him out. 
But the bear showed fight, and they beat a 
hasty retreat. Fires were tlien built in the 
mouth of the cave to smoke him out. After 
being satisfied that the bear was overcome with 
the smoke, they waited until it cleared away 
when three men with torches started in to search 
for him. In a few moments they heard a faint 
cry and one of the three came staggering back 
with the word that the other two were overcome 
with "fire damp" and he had just strength to 
return and give the alarm. Seizing larger 
torches to drive off the foul air, others rushed 
to the rescue of their two comrades and brought 
them out perfectly limber and apparently life- 
less. On being returned to the fresh air, how- 
ever, they soon revived. The dead bear, which 
weighed about 400 pounds was afterwards taken 
out, but the meat had spoilt. 



history of mcdonald county. 199 

Claib Stafford's First Bear. 

Mr. Stafford relates the following account 
of killing his first bear. His father had a corn 
field and bear were so numerous that they had 
taken to it and were destroying the corn like a 
gang of hogs. Claib was quite a small boy, but 
his father sent him around the field one day to 
see if all was right, allowing him to take the 
gun. He heard a noise in the corn near where 
a large log was lying, at the side of which grew 
a sapling. He saw something black by this lit- 
tle tree which he thought was a large coon. He 
put his gun through tlie fence, took aim at the 
center of its breast and fired. Being a little un- 
certain as to his game he started back home, 
but soon met his father who had heard the gun 
fire and had started to see what was up. To- 
gether they approached the log, and there lay 
a large bear shot through the heart. The log 
had concealed the lower part of its body, and 
its head was hid by the corn and branches of the 
sapling, exposing only a small part of its breast 
w^hich he took to be a coon on the side of the 
little tree. 



200 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



Robbery OF The McDonald County Bank. 

Tuesday morning, August 17, 1897, about ten 
o'clock our usually quiet town was thrown into 
a fever of excitement by the robbery of the Mc- 
Donald County Bank. 

Mr. Shields was sitting under the awning 
north of the door, Mr. LaMance just to his left 
and Mr. Manning was sitting just inside of the 
door. All three were quietly talking when two 
men suddenly came around the corner of the 
building from the north side and told Shields 
and Manning they wanted the money and wanted 
it d— n quick. Mr. Shields began to remonstrate 
when he was promptly knocked over with a 
Winchester, and sent on his all-fours after the 
cash. They were followed into the vault by 
one of the robbers a medium sized man who 
kept his Winchester presented and with much 
profanity and threatening urged them to hurry. 
He produced a sack and com^Delled them to throw 
in the money. The other, a large, tall man 
stood in the door, guarded LaMance and kept 
watch of the outside movements. He was 
cautioned by the robber inside to keep his eye 
on the hardware. 

Kin McDonaldand Mrs. Plumlee who had just 
driven up to the hitch rack in a buggy were 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 201 

were greeted with the remark, "You just sit 
still and you sha'nt be hurt. " Of course Kin 
complied. 

LaMance stood twirling a bunch of keys and 
talking to the man in the door, and at one time 
the fellow laughed at one of LaMance 's droll 
remarks. He would probably have been thrown 
oif his guard had his demeanor not been observed 
by the leader inside, who cautioned him to watch 
more carefully. 

They had come into town from the Big Sugar 
Creek road and hitched their horses at the back 
of Wear's lot just west of the Baptist church. 
A small young man, or boy, part Indian was 
left in the street in front of Col. Hooper's 
residence. Brit hooper and Mr. Case who 
happened to be near were held up by him, and 
he remarked to Brit that it was no use to get 
excited in a time like that. 

Of course it all came like a flash of lightning 
from a clear sky. The first who saw it thought 
it was some boys scuffling, but as soon as the 
alarm was given men began to run for guns. 
But f ew^ could be found and most of them were 
not loaded. 

Inside of three minutes they had secured the 
cash and started for their horses, compelling 
Shields and Manning to march at a lively trot 
in front of them thus preventing any shots being 



202 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

fired as they retreated. The robbers rode out 
as they came in, and a fourth of a mile above Tes- 
terman's house they met little Floyd Shields 
and exchanged horses with him. But one shot 
was fired, and that was a Winchester shot 
from one of then fired in the air as they rode off. 

They took to the hills about a mile east of 
town crossed Little Sugar and made for the 
Indian Territory. Late in the afternoon they 
were intercepted by a possee as they rode down 
a gulch into Butler creek bottom. A fight en- 
sued in which two of the robbers were slightly 
wounded and one horse killed. They abandoned 
the other horses and took to the brush the tall 
man, Whit Tennyson, having been separated 
from the other two by the Shields horse 
runningaway with him. Tennyson was captured 
the next day in the Indian Territory by Joe and 
Scott Yeargin of Southwest City. He exposed 
the plot and in a few days the other two were 
captured at Weir City, Kansas. 

The one who stood guard at the horses proved 
to be Cora Hubbard, a woman in men's attire. 
She was taken at her father's house in Weir 
City a few hours after her return. The other 
one, John Scheets, came in a couple of days 
later. They were all fully identified and freely 
acknowledged their guilt. About $355 of the 
money was recovered. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 203 

Tennyson is a widower 30 years old, Scheets 
is a young man about twenty-two, and Cora 
Hubbard is a grass widow twenty-five. Their 
case is now pending in our circuit court, and it 
is probable that for this one rash act they will 
s]3end a good portion of their lives in the pen- 
itentiary. 



204 history of mcdonald county. 
Killing of Jack Tillotson. 

On Sunday night, August 30, 1896, a desperate 
fight took place at the Lumis school house in 
White Rock township, between Jack Tillotson 
and Tom Hopper, in which the former was in- 
stantly killed and the latter stabbed in several 
places. The occurrence was especially deplor- 
able from the fact that both were young men, or 
rather boys, about nineteen years old, and were 
strangers. They had never spoken to each 
other except on one occasion they chanced to 
meet in the road and spoke as they passed. 

Rev. James Hollow^ay was holding a series of 
meetings at the place above named and the two 
boys were at meeting on the fatal Sunday night. 
It appears that young Tillotson had taken a girl 
to church the night before, and on the way home 
some of the boys hooted at and made fun of 
them. Among them was one of the Hopper 
boys, a brother to Tom. On Sunday night the 
school house was full and perhaps as many out- 
side. Young Hopper was sitting on a rick of 
w^ood which was corded up a few yards from the 
house with a couple of other men. Tillotson 
approached and in a rude manner asked if he 
was the fellow that halload at him the night be- 
fore. Hopper replied that he was not. Tillot- 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 205 

son said he could whip (applying a very foul 
name) that halload at him. Hopper said he 
was in the crowd but did not halloa. Tillotson 
twice more repeated the ej^ithet, when Hopper 
said "You can't whip me," and struck Tillotson 
in the face, In the fight Hopper was stabbed in 
the breast, on both wrists, and had a cut in the 
the thigh some four inches deep. He threw 
himself back on the wood and while getting up 
was struck once or twice with a stick of w^ood. 
As he was getting up he drew a 44-caliber revol- 
ver and fired, the ball passed through Tillotson 's 
body near the heart, killing him instantly. 

Hopper was indicted for murder in the second 
degree the following January, and tried at the 
August term, 1897. He was convicted of man- 
slaughter in the fourth degree and his punish- 
ment fixed at two years in the penitentiary. 
The case was appealed to the supreme court 
where it is still pending (September 1897.) 



206 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



Murder of George Smith. 

Pineville Democrat, March 19, 1897. 

Last Sunday night, March 14, 1897, just as 
divine services were closed and the congregation 
dismissed at what is known as Old Bethpage 
Baptist church, on North Elkhorn creek, and as 
he was in the act of putting on his overcoat, 
George W. Smith was coolly and deliberately 
shot down without warning by one John Arnold, 
a boy about 19 years old. The shot was fired from 
the outside the, ball passing through a pane of 
glass in one of the middle windows on the 
east side of the church striking its victim in the 
right temple, passing slightly upward through 
the right lobe and into the left lobe of the brain, 
there deflecting and passing into the back of 
the head where it was found lying in the brain 
when the autopsy was made after death. 

Prom the time the shot was fired at twenty 
minutes to nine o'clock Sunday night he lay in 
a comatose state until death came at twenty 
minutes past twelve o'clock on Monday. In his 
critical condition it was impossible to move him 
to his home, only about one hundred and twenty- 
five yards from the church, so that he died with- 
in a few feet of where he was shot and was buried 
from the church at two o'clock on Tuesday, the 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 207 

whole population of the country turning out to 
pay its last tribute of respect to one whom all 
honored and loved. 

Young Arnold had been seen at the window 
and talked with by some of the young men out- 
side and had refused to enter the church with 
them. The excitement in the church at the time 
was intense, and after a few minutes parties 
started out to search for the assassin and Arn- 
old having been seen at the window and then 
suddenly disappearing suspicion pointed to him. 
An hour or such a matter after the shooting 
parties went to the home of 01 Mosier, about a 
mile north of the church, after castor oil and 
found that Arnold was there and in bed. The 
Constable and Squire Mosier were notified, a 
warrant issued, and he was taken into custody 
by constable Hines about midnight. 

Sheriff Jarrett and Prosecutor Clay were 
notified as quickly as possible Monday morning, 
and Mr. Clay being unable to go on account of 
trying a criminal case here that morning, Sher- 
iff Jarrett and Judge W. E. Smith went as 
quickly as possible to the scene, arriving there 
about noon. Arnold was arraigned before Squire 
Mosier and waived examination and was commit- 
ted to jail the Sheriff taking charge of and 
bringing him to Pineville, himself, prisoner and 
Judge Smith leaving there about four o'clock 



208 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

and arriving here a little after dark, and the 
Sheriff landed him in the Neosho jail the next 
day. Excitement ran quite high in the country 
where the assassination occured, and had the 
people been positive that the right party had 
been caught it is believed by many that he 
would have been lynched. 

He seemed to take every thing very coolly, 
and that night while being guarded here made 
a confession, deliberately acknowledging that 
he did it, telling all about how he did it, and 
implicating other parties, saying that he was 
to have, or had got $25.00 for it. He said he 
had nothing in the world against Mr. Smith 
personally. His confession was reduced to 
writing and he swore to it. Arnold has lived 
in that locallity most of the time for six or 
seven years past, and is an orphan. In some 
ways he may not be over bright, but at the 
same time he is a cunning, shrewd fellow and 
by no means unaccountable. He used a 38 
caliber live chamber revolver, and the same day 
had shown it to some of the boys, showing them 
that he had five cartridges in the revolver and 
six in his pocket. The shell of the eleventh 
was picked up about seventy-five yards from 
the church near a tree the next morning. This 
shell and the bullet extracted from the brain 
of Mr. Smith exactly fitted Arnold's revolver. 



history of mcdonald county. 209 

Tiff City. 

This enterprising little town was platted by 
S. L. Hopkins, August 6, 1881. Hopkins platted 
an addition in 1883, and E. W. BePue laid out 
another addition in 1886. 

The town is situated on Buffalo creek where 
it crosses the State line. It has a population 
of about 200 people, and contains several enter- 
prising and well conducted business establish- 
ments. Is has a good portion of Buffalo and 
Patterson creek valleys, besides some prarie 
and extensive flat woods from which to draw 
its custom in the State, and is adjacent to a 
fertile tract of country in the Indian Territory. 

The name was suggested by the mineral 
substance of that name which abounds in the 
vicinity of the spring. The town was incor- 
porated several years ago, but after an experi- 
ment of several months the city government 
was abandoned. During this time a number of 
men got on a spree and undertook to run the 
town. They bluffed off two or three of the offi- 
cers, sending some of them home for repairs. 
Ed Hopkins, one of the deputies, commanded 
the peace and was assaulted by the rioters. He 
drew his pistol and shot John Caulk, one of them 
dead. It was in Tiff City that Minnie DePue, 
a girl in her teens, shot and instantly killed 
John Lewis, a man of family, in defense of her 
honor. They used to scrap a little down there, 
but in recent years the place has become quite 
peaceable and the moral element prevails. 



210 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



The Temperance Work in 
McDonald County. 

by mrs. lora s. lamance. 

The rise and growth of temperance sentiment 
in McDonald county has been somewhat out of 
the ordinary. To fully understand it, we must 
go back to the early days of its settlement. At 
the first, the county was largely settled by peo- 
ple from the Southern and Western states. The 
most genial, hospitable people on earth, their 
very qualities of bon homie and good fellow- 
ship inclined tliem to conviviality. There had 
been no temperance agitation, and none were 
troubled with scruples as to dram drinking or 
social treating. Most of filestores sold whisky, 
and sold it with as little concealment as they 
did their calicoes; every farmer brought his 
jug with him when he came to town to trade; 
every horse swapping or sale of land was con- 
firmed by treats all around; every house and 
barn raising was dedicated by the passing of 
the -whisky jug from hand to hand; the guests 
at every wedding grew hilarious with exhilara- 
ting corn- juice, while all too often the mourners 
of the funeral, drowned their sorrow^s the same 
day in the oblivion of drunkenness. Picnics, 
elections, and holidays were days of "a general 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 211 

^ood time," which expression covered every- 
thing from being gentlemanly foxy to lying dead- 
drunk in the fence corner. Thus were sown the 
seeds for a bitter harvest of dissij^ation. 

Following this came the terrible period of 
the civil war. McDonald County was on debata- 
ble ground, and was over-ran again and again, 
by the contending Federal and Confederate forc- 
es. She was mercilessly pillaged and sacked, her 
court house destroyed, and her records burned. 
For years there was no restraint of either church 
or court. Anarchy reigned, and the inevitable 
demoralization that followed, could not be over 
come in a day nor year. The days of reconstruc- 
tion, of the setting in motion of the machinery 
of law and order, was a time of turbulence. 
The war had engendered countless feuds between 
neighbors. The Governor had to appoint the 
first officers, and rival ambitions and jealousies 
fanned this animosity. As an instance of the 
unsettled state of affairs, the records show that 
no less than three different men were ai)pointed 
in three months time to the same county ofiice. 
Moral restraint, that would have alleviated much 
of this angry feeling, unfortunately was in 
abeyance. The war had been over two years 
before the first church was organized in the 
county, and it consisted of a class of but six 
persons, five women and one man. 



212 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

All this turbulent time two and three saloons 
were doing a flourishing business at the county 
seat, then a hamlet of less than two hundred in- 
habitants, but from its position the center of all 
this turmoil. Undoubtedly much of the incite- 
ment to strife came from the same iniquitous sa- 
loons, the breeders of mischief everywhere. 
Then again, there came back from the war a 
loose, wreckless class of persons, who drift as 
naturally to places where the law is weak and 
moral force at a low ebb, as the waters run down 
hill. The period of 1865 — 70 was a shameful 
one that all of McDonald's Citizens would be 
glad to forget. It was a current saying that 
Pineville was the worst drinking hole in the 
state, and this fact furnishes the only reasonable 
explanation of how such an appalling list of 
crimes and misdemeanors could be committed 
in the midst of v/hat had been before, and is at 
the present time, a most peaceful people. There 
were days of general uproariousness, led by the 
wreckless characters before spoken of who drank 
and caroused, and held high carnival, bullying 
quiet, respectable citizens, defying the law, 
and over-riding the peace officers. On such 
days bullets would fly upon the streets until 
sober men would leap upon their horses and 
flee for their lives. 

It is not for us to record the murder and crimes 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 213 

of those dark days, but one tragedy stands out 
so black even on that dark page, that we can 
not pass it by. One of the carpenters employed 
in building the court-house, was a man originally 
of fine impulse; he gave way however to the 
dissipation all around him and became a perfect 
sot. In a moment of remorse, realizing the 
chains of drink were too strong for him to ever 
be his own master again, he took his own life. 
His wife, who left behind her this little message, 
"Deathisbetter than to live the wife of a drunk- 
ard, ' ' took poison with him, and died also. This 
terrible deed shocked a community fast growing 
accustomed to crime, and sober men began to 
ask, "How much longer shall these things 
continue?" Then began one of the most effect- 
ive temperance awakenings that our county has 
ever known. No temperance advocate has ever 
delivered such touching and effective pleas 
for sobriety, as did the shootings, stabbing and 
murders, that could be traced to the saloons. 
What men have to know and see, they feel, and 
the peaceful, law-abiding element began to do 
some serious thinking on the liquor problem. 
Men who had been moderate dram drinkers all 
their lives, began to see the dangers of indulg- 
ence, and more and more, the substantial men 
who are the back bone and sinew of every 
community, swore off from drinking themselves. 



214 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

and gave their influence against it. An improve- 
ment of conditions followed at once upon this 
change of public opinion. Drinking there was 
yet, and to excess, but the shameless orgies of 
the "60 's" could not be repeated, for public 
sentiment w^ould no longer tolerate them. 

In 1874 a lodge of I. O. G. T. was organized 
at Pineville, but soon came to an end. The time 
was not yet ripe for public revolution. The 
leaven was working, however, and in Feb- 
ruary, 1878, w^hen Mrs. S. A. Williams came to 
Pineville in the interest of the Murphy and Blue 
Ribbon movement, the hour w^as ripe. The 
awakening was something phenomenal. The 
interest that w^as taken baffles description. The 
community became at a w^hite heat of enthusi- 
asm. Night after night for weeks the old Meth- 
odist church was packed to the very walls; 
farmers w^ith their families drove over rough 
roads on the darkest nights, and stood patient- 
ly the jam and push of the crowd, a third of 
whom could not be seated. Blue ribbon by the 
bolt w^as cut into badges. Tipplers and teeto- 
talers, drunkards and church members, fell into 
line w^aiting their turn to have their names re- 
corded, and the bit of blue ribbon pinned on. 
Whenever some particularly hard case would 
fall into line the enthusiastic audience would 
burst into song. The ringing chorus of ' 'Throw^ 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 215 

out the life-line," "Pull for the shore," or 
*'Hold the fort, would resound until the 
very walls echoed back the refrain. When this 
protracted temperance love-feast closed, there 
was scarcely an adult for miles around but what 
had taken the pledge, "With malice toward none, 
and charity toward all." "The Murphies" of 
Pineville had even gone with song and exhorta- 
tion to White Rock and other townships, carrying 
the gospel of total abstinence. The better to 
hold the large number of reformed men who 
joined them, the Murphies resolved to hold a 
regular meeting every Thursday night, and 
for five years they did so. 

But it was not all smooth sailing. Far from 
it, indeed. The power proved unresistable, 
and one unfortunate after another broke his 
pledge, until the number of defections was an 
open scandal. Many societies would have given 
up the ghost at once, but our McDonald Count^^ 
Murphies were not of that kind of stuff. The 
matter was taken up. It was decided for the 
children and young men's sakes to continue the 
meetings. Then came the question of purging 
the rolls. Some of those who had violated their 
pledge were most honored citizens, and their 
wives and children were in the audience. Men 
sat and looked at each other, each unwilling to 
do this obvious but un23leasant duty. Then 



216 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

uprose old Harmon Kenney, an officer in the 
church, and his hair white with the snow of 
three-score and ten winters. With tears falling 
like rain down his cheeks, he said, "What no 
one else will do, Harmon Kenney must do. I 
move that so and so, be expelled from our rolls. " 
This one man's brave Christian act saved the 
Murphies. The remnant that was left, deter- 
mined to not yield, and for those five years, 
line upon line they, gave instruction i n 
temperance doctrine until public sentiment in 
Pineville township became, as it remains to-day, 
overwhelmingly on the right side. The Murphies 
as an organization, have died out everywhere, 
but the work they did for Pineville township 
and through it an influence extending through- 
out the county, can scarcely be over-estimated. 
For five years after the Murphies disbanded, 
we find no record of any temperance society in 
the county . Early in 1888, temperance again be- 
came a burning question, for in February of 
that year a special election was held upon the 
Wood Local Opteion Law. The results showed 
the folly of attempting to pass a reform measure 
without an active organization working for it, 
for the antis or "wets," carried the measure 
overwhelmingly, one township indeed, giving 
but one dry vote. At the eleventh hour, Feb- 
ruary, the month of the election, the W. C. T. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 217 

IT. sent an organizer, C. J. Holt, into the county 
to rally the temperance forces, and do the little 
that could be done in that short time. He at 
once established a W. C. T. U. at Pineville, the 
most central point in the county, and the now 
aroused workers succeeded in getting some 
earnest work done in some other townships. 

In Pineville towmshi]3 the ladies served hot 
coffee and refreshments close to the voting 
place, and pinned ribbon badges on the "dry" 
adherents. Without exception, in every voting 
I)recinct where the temperance people made a 
stand, the "drys" won: where they let it go by 
default, the "wets" carried the day as surely. 
There is a lesson in this for future remembrance. 

In Elk River Township, (where the town of 
Noel now stands,) the sentiment against saloons 
was supposed to be decisive, and the temj)erance 
people made no attempt to rally their forces. 
The liquor men, wiser in their day and generation 
organized a still hunt along every by-path and 
up every cross-hollow. At 3 o'clock, to their 
astonishment, the "drys "found themselves out 
numbered, Thomas Marshall, Elk River's lead- 
ing citizen, roundly vowed that that record 
should not stand. He brought out every horse 
iind vehickle that he had, pressed drivers into 
service and sent them after the stay-at home 
temj)erance vote. In one part of the Township 



218 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

was a little body of Adventists. They were 
staunch temperance men, but as the election 
came on Saturday, which was their Sabbath, 
they stayed at home rather than desecrate the 
Sabbath day. To them Mr. Marshall sent this 
terse message, "This is a case of helping the 
ox out of the pit," and every man responded. 
They got there just before the poles closed, and 
Elk River went "dry" by exactly live majority. 

The W. C. T. U. that was organized by C. J. 
Holt, at Pineville, consisted of 21 active and 2 
honorary members. Mrs. America Chenoweth 
was the first President, and much interest was 
manifested. In March Mr. Holt organized a 
W. C. T. U. at Southwest City with 33 members 
the most prominent ladi es of the town connecting 
themselves with it. Somewhere about this time, 
but whether organized by Mr. Holt we do not 
know, a W. C. T. U. was also established at 
Rocky Comfort. These are the three stragetic 
points, center south, and north, that any or- 
ganization that intends to hold the county must 
first capture. These unions all contained much 
excellent material, and gave at first mach prom- 
ise; but our ladies were unsued to public work 
of any kind, the leaders one by one became sick 
or moved away, and the move came to a stand- 
still everywhere for lack of a head. 

After this came a spasmodic revival of the I. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 219 

O. G. T. at one or two points, but this also, soon 
came to naught. In August 1893, Mrs. May L. 
Woods, President of the 23rd District W. C. T. 
U., and Mrs. Rebecca Hall, the saintly head of 
the State Evangelical Department of the W. C. 
T. U., organized a W. C. T. U. at Southwest 
City. This was a smaller Union than the first, 
and was organized under more discouraging 
influences, for the liquor sentiment at that time 
was unfortunately strong at Southwest City. 
Mrs. Lucy A. Struthers, a most estimable 
woman, was elected President, and Mrs. E. P. 
Quarles was appointed the County President. 
January 11 1894, Mrs. Woods, our beloved 
District President, and Mrs. Clara C. Hoifman, 
the State President of the Missouri W. C. T. U., 
organized a Union at Pineville. Mrs. Lora S. 
LaMance was the first President, and served as 
such until September 1895, when Mrs. C. S. 
Manning, our present leader, took her place. 
In May 1894, Mrs Quarles resigned as County 
President, and Mrs. LaMance was appointed to 
her position, and still holds it. In May 1894 a 
Union was organized at Anderson, another good 
central point. Of this Mrs. Octavia Elliff was 
President until 1896, when Mrs. P. A. T. Yocum 
took her place. In December 1896, Mrs. Nellie 
G. Burger organized a W. C. T. U. at Rocky 
Comfort, Mrs. Fannie Kelly, President, and 



220 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

this list completes the number of W. C. T. U. 's 
at present in the county. 

The W. C. T. U. have held it as their special 
mission to form and crystalize public sentiment 
in favor of prohibition. While we work among 
the adults, and especially try to awaken the 
churches as to their duty upon this ques'^ion, W' e 
pay special attention to the children. Adopting 
the language of one of our leaders we hold that 
"The star of hope for the temperance reform 
hangs over the school house." We have held 
in our three and a half year's existence three 
special meetings with the teachers at the Normal, 
and have pledged them to teach scientific tem- 
perance instruction in the school room, that 
our boys and girls may understand why alcohol 
and tobacco hurt the human bodj^. We have 
had about twenty- live Demorest Oratorical 
Contests, for j^oung people between the ages 
of fourteen and twenty-live. Two of these 
Contests were for the gold medal, all the com- 
petitors for which had already won a silver 
medal. Beside this there have been four or 
five L. T. L. Contests held for children under 
fourteen. Fully one third of these Contests, 
that have awakened great interest everywhere, 
and incidently taught our young people more 
about elocution than they had ever known before 
have been held by our friends the teachers, in 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 221 

District schools. By that means the prohibition 
gospel has been carried where no temperance 
lecturer has ever gone, and no temperance soci- 
ety ever organized. 

We have held four very successful county con- 
ventions, at which many able addresses and pa- 
pers were presented. We have enjoyed at stat- 
ed periods hearing such well known lecturers 
as Mrs. Hoffman, Mrs. Bosvv^orth and Mrs. Bur- 
ger. We have held many public meetings that 
have done much to hold public sentiment to the 
right. We have scattered thousands of pages 
of temperance literature, and the most of the 
time for the last two years, the Unions at An- 
derson and Pineville have maintained a Tem- 
perance column in the Pineville Democrat and 
Anderson Messenger respectively. By all these 
things we know w^e have not been idlers in the 
Master's vineyard, and yet there is so much 
more that ought to be done, and that we might 
have accomplished, that we feel that we have 
no room for self praise. God granting, the W. 
C. T. U. of McDonald county in spite of special 
discouragements at this and that point, will 
still press on, and labor for the "good, the true 
and the right," until there is no need for a tem- 
perance society in the county. 

In the fall of 1894, E. H. Benham organized 
a chain of I. O. G. T. lodges in our county. 



222 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

There is the best of feeling between fraternal 
temperance societies, so he advanced to no point 
where the W. C. T. U. was already established, 
but at Erie, Bethpage, Tiff City, Noel, and three 
or four other points he organized lodges. Some 
of these proved short lived, but it is thought 
that they at least prepared the way for some fu- 
ture organization. Erie and Bethpage I. O. G. 
T. lasted for two years each, but from lack of 
leaders, the common cause of failure, went down. 
The lodge at Donohue, however, remains in a 
flourishing condition, and is exerting a wide- 
spread influence. It is the George Washington 
Lodge, and one of its officers says it is its good 
name that keeps it alive and growing, but we 
think there is more in the stick-to-it-iveness of 
its officers. 

Every one of these Lodges ought to take 
heart and reconvene themselves. The field is 
indeed white unto the harvest, but the laborers 
are few. The change in public sentiment the 
last few years has been gratifying to the tem- 
perance people, but if we are to cement this in- 
to strong, clear intent and purpose, we must do 
more and better work. Let us up, and be at 
our labor, while it is yet to-day! 



HISTORY OP MCDONALD COUNTY. 225 



CHAPTER XIII. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



A. A. Adams, familiarily known as Allen, is 
a son of Jeff and Mary E. Adams, who for many 
years were familiarcitizensof Buffalo township. 
He was born in Texas, January 17, 1864. In 
1867 his parents came to this county and located 
on the Sugar Pork of Buffalo creek. His mother 
died in 1888, his father in 1894. He and Miss 
Ada L. Hayes were united in marriage August 
11, 1889. She bore him three children, all of 
whom are now living. She died November 20, 
1894. Mr. Adams was reared on his father's 
farm, and attended the district schools what 
time he could be spared from the farm duties. 
He followed that occupation until October 1895, 
when he bought a half interest in the Coy Mills, 
since whicli time he has been interested in that 
business, being now located at Tiff City. He 
has given his attention to the various details of 
the business until he has become almost as fa- 
miliar with the milling business as the farm 



2'2Q HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

work. At present he is engaged in running the 
engine and assistant manager of the business 
of the firm. 

Andrew D. Anderson, of McMillin town- 
ship, son of Robert and Hester Anderson, was 
bom in Barry county. Missouri Se]3tember 3, 
1840. Fire years later his parents moved to 
this county and settled what is now the Schmidt 
farm, since which time the object of this sketch 
has j)i'iiici pally been a resident of this county. 
He enlisted August 2, 1862, in Co. H. Sixth 
Kansas Cavalry, Volunteers and served until 
June '2'2. 1865. The last ten months of the war 
he was held a prisoner at Tyler, Texas. He 
was first married December 7, 1865, to Rachel 
L. Mizer of Tennessee. To them were born 
seven children after which she died. Mr. An- 
derson and Mrs. Malinda C. Hamilton, a widow 
with three children, were married September 
28, 1880, To them another seven children were 
born. He at first joined the Baptist church 
but afterwards withdrew and joined the Xorth 
Methodist of which denomination he was for 
many years a local preacher. His present 
widow, after her marriage with Mr. Anderson, 
also withdrew from the Baptist and joined the 
church to which he belonged. He was a pros- 
I>erous farmer and at the time of his death, 
November 1895, owned a farm of over 200 acres. 



HISTORY OF MCDOXALD COrXTT. '2'27 



He lived an exemplary life, hig-hly resx>ected 
bv all ^lio knew him and orreatlT beloved bv 
his wife and children to whom he had ever been 
a kind husband and father. 

Robert Anderson, was bom in Grayson 
county. Virginia, February 1, ISol. Here he 
lived until he was about 18 years old, when he 
went to Tennessee, and from there to this 

« 

county in 1861. One of the first scenes he rem- 
embered of seeina: after reachinsr this countv 
was the holding of court on a big flat rock at 
the forks of the two Sugar creeks. He was 
first man'ied to Xancy Testerman, oi Ash 
countv, North Carolina in 1848. After bearinsr 
seven children four of whom are still living she 
died and was buried at Beaver Springs ceme- 
tery. He served in the quarter mast*^r's de- 
partment one year under G^en. Price. Mr. An- 
derson has been appointed post master four 
different times and served in all about twenty 
years, holding the ix>sition at Erie. Baladan, 
and Anderson. He established the latter oflice 
in 1^^7. and the town incidental! v bears his 
name. He was justice of the peace four years 
at Erie and Indian Springs. By occupation he 
is a merchant and mechanic. havin£r sold sroods 
for upwards of twenty yeai*s, and has built '21 
houses in this countv. 

Zach Baker, our present efficient county 



228 HISTORY OP MCDONALD COUNTY. 

clerk, is one of the most prominent men of 
McDonald county. He is a son of Judge Hiram 
Baker, and was born in Wayne county this 
State in 1846. His parents came to this county 
in 1853, where the object of this sketch w^as 
principally reared. He received a fair education 
in the common schools, mostly in Camden 
county, where they went during a portion of 
the war. He was especially efficient in figures 
and penmanship. He w^as married in 1879, and 
they have seven children, all living. Mr. Baker, 
or Zach as every body calls him, has been nom- 
inated by the Republicans and Independents 
several times, and came within a few votes of 
being elected when the opposition had some 
300 majority. In 1886 he was elected county 
assessor, which office he filled with credit, and 
his work received the approval of the Democratic 
county officials. In 1894 he was elected to the of- 
fice which he now holds. By occupation he is a 
farmer and knows what hard work is. He is a 
minister in the Christian church, and seems to 
be a great favorite with the young couples who 
are matrimonially inclined. 

A. H. Barlow, one of the oldest and most 
respected citizens of this county, was born near 
Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1818. Where he 
was quite a small boy his parents moved to 
Tennessee, where they died. He came to Neosho 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 229 

in 1841, and has lived in Newton and McDonald 
counties ever since. He received his education 
at home, studying at night by light of pine knots. 
He married Elizabeth Gibson in Tennessee, they 
had twelve children, four of whom are dead. 
Of the living, two are in Colorado, two in the 
Chocktaw Nation, one in Kansas, one at Neosho 
one at Stella, and one near Miami, I. T. Some 
years after the death ot his first wife he married 
the widow Michael of Newton county. They 
have three children all living. One at Anderson, 
one in Ark. and one in Colorado. Mr. Barlow 
was originally a Whig, and says he sticks to it 
yet, but voted for Bryan last fall. He has been 
a carpenter, cabinet maker and mill wright. 
During the war he lived on a small farm near 
Neosho most of the time, but finally went to 
Neosho and followed the Union army. During 
the war his house and fences were all burnt, 
but they caught from the forest fires. He 
says the Rebels treated him well and he 
never had an enemy in his life. 

Samuel D. Best was born January 3, 1829, 
in Lincoln county. North Carolina. His par- 
ents moved to Tennessee when he was but 18 
months old, where he was brought up. He was 
first married in Blunt county, Tenn., in 1851, 
and has 15 children, 13 of whom are still living. 
He is now livino- ^^ith his second wife to whom 



230 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

he was married in the north part of this state a 
few years ago. In early life he attended school 
at Perryville, Tenn., where he acquired his ed- 
ucation. Mr. Best has quite an interesting war 
record, having served three years under Stan- 
ley and Sheridan. He was in many battles, 
among which were Perryville, Nashville, Mur- 
f eesborough and Knoxville. He was First Lieu- 
tenant, Co. D., Second Tenn. Cavalry; was 
wounded near Murfeesborough in March, 1863, 
and some time later resigned on account of dis- 
ability. Mr. Best is a farmer by occupation, 
and owns a comfortable home on the Pineville 
and Indian Springs road. 

James H. Cowan, son of David and Matilda 
Cowan, was born in Barton county, Alabama, 
Dec. 24, 1840. His parents moved to Tenn. 
and from there to Missouri in 1853, and settled 
where the object of this sketch now lives, on 
Big Sugar creek near Cyclone. He attended 
school at the Love school house in Elk Horn 
township. In 1872 he was united in marriage 
with Miss Hannah Phillips, but she died two 
weeks later. The next year he married her 
sister Mary. She lived twelve years and bore 

five children, three of whom are living — Nancy 
(Cook), Marcus Andrew, and David C, all in 
this county. Mr. Cowan is a farmer by occupa- 
tion, a staunch Republican in politics, and for 
fifteen years has been a member of the Missionary 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 231 

Baptist Church. He enlisted in Co. M. Sixth 
Mo. Cavalry September 1, 1861; again i n 
Fifteenth Mo. Cav. Nov. 1, 1863. Reserved as 
Corporal for some time, and was elected Lieu- 
tenant, but the war closed before his com- 
mission came. 

D. S. Elliff, was born in McDonald county, 
Missouri, March 11, 1867, and has lived here all 
his life. He received a good education in the 
district schools and when quite a young man, 
taught three terms, but he prefered the life of a 
farmer and has followed that occupation since. 
July 19, 1888, he and Miss Nettie B. Elliott, 
daughter of Judge Elliott of this county, were 
united in marriage. They have had three 
children — Inez, Monroe and Goldie. Inez died 
February 21, 1897, at the age of seven years. 
When but eighteen years of age Mr. Elliff 
united with the Baptist churcli of which he has 
ever since been a consistent member. He was 
lecturer of the Farmer's Alliance of this county 
for two years. He has been a leading member 
of the Populist party for many years, and his 
integrity and hard work were rewarded after 
the campaign of 1897by the appointment to a lu- 
crative position in the House of Representatives, 
39, General Assembly. At the present time he 
is a member of the Po^Dulist Congressional and 
State Executive Committees. 



232 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

T. C. GiLBREATH, son of John and Mary 
Gilbreath, was born in LaPorte county, Indiana, 
in 1846. In 1852 his parents moved to Iowa 
and from there to Harrison county Missouri in 
1855. When the war broke out they went to 
Des Moines, Iowa where he attended school. 
He was married in Newton county. Mo. May 8, 
1870, to Miss R. M. Mickens, formerly of Story 
county, Iowa. They have had six children, 
live of whom are living-. He came to McDonald 
county in 1893 from Jasper county, where he 
had lived for several years. He operated a 
saw mill first on Big Sugar, then near Pine ville, 
where he did a thriving business. He sold his 
mill and tried farming awhile, but afterwards 
resumed his former occupation, and is apparently 
master of the art. In 1896 he was elected justice 
of the peace of Anderson township which position 
he fills with credit. He is a member of the I. 
O. O. F. and Encampment of O. P. Politically 
he is a Greenbacker. 

J. Turner Horner, son of Dr. John T. and 
Mary Horner, was born July 26, 1866, in Webster 
county, Missouri. When he was but six weeks 
old his parents moved to Barry county, where 
Mr. Horner spent his boyhood and youth. He 
received a good education at Cassville, and 
began teaching at the age of twenty years. He 
soon became one of the leading teachers of 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 283 

Barry county, and was several times teacher 
of some of the best schools in that county, and 
was principal of the Purdy school in 1889. Jan- 
uary 1, 1888 he was united in marriage with 
Miss Mattie Jessee of Cassville, Missouri. They 
have three children, two girls and one boy. In 
1889 he moved to McDonald county to take 
charge of the Pineville school of which he was 
principal that year and the next. He was 
again elected to the same position for the term 
of 1896-7, all of which he tilled with credit. In 
the campaign of 1894, he was a contestant be- 
fore the Republican County Convention for 
Representative, but on being defeated, was 
unanimously tendered, the nomination for 
Presiding Judge of the County court, to which 
honorable and responsible position he was 
elected the following November. As an ofticer 
he has performed his duty ably and honestly. 
He now resides at Rocky Comfort where he has 
a comfortable home, and follows his chosen 
professon, that of teacher. He is elected prin- 
cipal of the Rocky Comfort High School for the 
school year 1897-98. 

P. A. HoRTON, was born in Benton county, 
Arkansas, August 17, 1869. He is a son of 
Daniel and Sarah (Graham) Horton. His 
father died a short time before he was born and 
his mother, who re-married, lived only about a 



234 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

year afterwards. His mother and stex)father 
moved from Arkansas to Joplin where they 
remained a short time when they came to Mc- 
Donald county. Press as he is usually called 
was raised on Indian creek near Erie. In 1890 
he and Miss Sarah Bogle were united in mar- 
riage; they have three children, all of whom 
are living. He has spent most of his life on a 
farm and hopes to some day own a good one of 
his own. For the past year or more he has 
been interested in the saw mill business. He 
belongs to the Democratic party with which he 
has voted ever since he arrived at his majority, 
and from which he sees no reason to change. 

Harry S. Jackson, is a son of S. H. and 
Mary Jackson, formerly of Tennessee, but now 
citizens of this county. Harry was born in Neo- 
sho, Missouri, June, 1873, consequently is still a 
young man. He attended the public schools 
at Neosho until the year 1887, when with his 
parents he came to McDonald county and located 
at Caverna. By improving his time in school 
he secured a good business education, which 
he has since improved by practical use and by 
a general course of useful and instructive 
reading, so that now he is counted as one of the 
best posted young men of the county. He was 
put to work in the mill at Caverna some years 
ago and thoroughly learned the business. He 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 235 

now has charge of the mill and is making a 
success of the enterprise, which is due to his 
good management and courteous treatment of 
all with whom he deals. The probabilities are 
that in the years to come he will rise to distinct- 
ion among our people. 

S. T. Lane: Another of the pioneers of this 
county is the gentleman whose name stands at 
the head of this sketch. He was born in Green 
county, this state, October 28, 1843. His birth 
place is now the historic Springfield battle 
ground. His parents, Samuel and Frances 
Marion (Robinson) Lane, came to McDonald 
county in 1845. He married Miss Isabel C. Kin- 
cannon, of Washington county, Arkansas. They 
have no children. Mr. Lane enlisted for the 
war in the 1st Missouri Confederate Artillery, 
where he held the position of bugler. He was 
in the battles at Carthage, Pea Ridge, Prairie 
Grove, Helena, Jenkius Ferry, and other smaller 
engagements. He joined the M. E. Church, 
South, in 1890, his wife having become a member 
of that church several years before, and both 
are living consistent Christian lives. He has 
been a farmer and carpenter by occupation and 

politically a life- long Democrat. For many 
years he lived on his farm on Patterson creek, 
but is now a resident of Tiff City, where he 
has a comfortable home and, with his estimable 
lady is enjoying the blessings of life. 



236 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

Martin L. Marrs, son of Aaron and Emmaline 
Marrs, was born in Washington county, Arkan- 
sas, August 18, 1855. He remained in the land 
of his birth until some years afterhe was grown 
to manhood coming to this county in 1885. He 
attended school at Vina Grove Seminary Ar- 
kansas where h e gained an education that renders 
him tit for the responsible county office which 
he now fills. On the 7, day of September, 1880, 
he and Miss Elizabeth Bunch, also of Washington 
county, Arkansas, were married. Their union 
has been blessed with five children, all of whom 
are living. Mr. Marrs was nominated on the 
Democratic ticket in 1896 for county assessor 
and was elected by a large majority. With the 
exception of a short time in the mercantile 
business at Jane, he has been a life-long farmer, 
and after his term of office he expects to return 
to his chosen occupation. 

M. E. Meador, of Anderson, is a son of 
Martin and Sarah Meador who settled in this 
county in the early days. He was born in this 
county Februrary 28, 1859 and has always 
lived here. He attended the district school at 
Beaver Springs near where his father lived. In 
1880 he was married to Miss Mary Anderson, 
also of this county. After bearing six children 
five of whom are living, she died May 1, 1896. 
When the rail road was built through this 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 237 

county it passed over a piece of his land, and 
with an eye to business, he at once laid it out 
in town lots. He has ever since been one of 
the principal men in building up the town of 
Anderson, and much of its success has been 
due to his work and influence. Mr. Meador is 
at present engaged in running a saw mill and 
livery stable. He is one of the stand-by's in 
the Republican party, having never wavered 
from that faith. 

J. P. Madden, one of the best known citizens 
of this county, was born in Warrick county 
Indiana March 29, 1838. He remained in his 
native state until in middle life where he held 
several x^ositions of honor and trust. He was 
. educated at a private school and followed the 
avocation of teacher for several years. He was 
Township Trustee, and assessor, also constable 
and deputj^ sheriff. In 1875 he moved from 
Indiana to Kansas and from there came to this 
county in 1878. Since living here he has worked 
at a saw mill for some time, then handled tim- 
ber at Anderson and now keeps a hotel there. 
He, at present devotes much of his time can- 
Amassing for cemetery marble work. He filled 
the office of county assessor on the Democratic 
ticket for two terms, 1889-93. and proved to be 
an honest servant of the people. He first 
married Miss Mary E. Hedges, of Warrick 



238 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

county Indiana, November 17, 1859. She died 
April 25, 1887. In 1889 he married Maggie S. 
Nance, \vith whom he is now living. 

John L. Montgomery, was born on Red 
River, Texas, June 28, 1848. He is a son of 
Jos. B. and Martha Montgomery, for many years 
a prominent family of this county. In 1850 his 
parents left Texas and located near Fayettville 
Arkansas. In 1863 they came to Missouri, and 
located in this county in 1867. John L. w^as 
married to Miss Hassie Hyatt of Newton 
county in 1868. They had tw^o children, both boys 
now in business in Rocky Comfort. His wife 
died July 15, 1890. One of his brothers served 
in the Union army, and his father commanded 
a company at the battle of Pea Ridge under 
Gen. Price. He is a member of the Christian 
Church, and in politics has always been a 
staunch Republican. For many years he was 
in the mercantile business at Rocky Comfort, 
but a couple of years ago withdrew from that 
business and now devotes his time to his farm 
where he has an elegant home. 

W. H. Noel, was born August 27, 1846, in 
Casey county Kentucky. His parents, B. S. 
and Nancy Noel, moved to McDonald county, 
Mo. the same year, consequently the object of 
this sketch has lived here from infancy. Au- 
gust 1, 1864 he joined the 2nd Cherokee regiment. 



HISTORY OF MCDONAI^D COUNTY. 239 

Confederate Volunteers and served to the close 
of the Avar. Was in several skirmishes in 
Missouri and Arkansas, and in one or two 
pretty severe engagements. November 20, 
1867, he was united in marriage with Miss Nannie 
Huffman, of Collins county, Texas. To them 
have been born ten children, seven of whom 
are still living. Before their marriage both 
had united with the Baptist church of which 
they have been consistent members for some 
thirty years. Mr. Noel was deputy sheriff live 
years; 1887-1892. In 1892 he was elected asses- 
sor, and re-elected in 1894, being the only Dem- 
ocrat elected on the county ticket that year. 
He is now (1897) deputy assessor. 

John W. Nutting, son of George and Margaret 
Nutting, was born in this county, January 6, 
1847. He lived at the home of his parents on 
Buffalo creek until August, 1862, at which time 
he enlisted in the Confederate army, Sixteenth 
Missouri Cavalry, bat in a short time they were 
dismounted and became Infantry. He was in 
the battles at^Helena, Pleasant Hill and Saline 
River, besides numerous minor engagements. 
His discription of their advance on Helena, the 
attack repusle and retreat sounds like a romance. 
He surrendered at the close of the war at 
Shrevesport, La. In 1869 he was married to 
Miss Margaret Raba a native of Knox county, 



240 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

Tenn. They have seven children all living. 
He is a member of the Baptist church, a farmer, 
and a life-long Democrat. In 1888 he was elected 
county judge for the western district, and re- 
elected in 1888, serving four years. His ability 
as an officer is tersely expressed in the appella- 
tion given him as "The watch dog of the county 
treasury." 

R. W. Patterson was born in Buncomb 
county, North Carolina, November 29, 1857. His 
parents came to McDonald county in 1871. On 
the 31, day of March, 1878 he and Miss Sarah 
E. Click of this county were united in marriage. 
They have four children, Clara A., Effie, Stella 
and Alfred. In politics he has always been a 
Democrat, and for the past twenty-three years 
has been a member of the Baptist church. He 
has been engaged in farming most of his life 
and owns a good farm near Anderson, but the 
last five or six years has been clerking in a 
store at that place. He was deputy assessor 
two years under Chapman and four years under 
Madden. Was justice of the peace four years 
1892-6 and for the last six years has been a 
notary public. His business qualifications are 
first class and his genial manners and fair 
dealings contribute much to the success of the 
firm with which he is connected. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 241 

H. C. Prater was born in Kentucky February 
2nd 1851. In 1855 his parents settled in Johnson 
county, this state, and in 1865 came to McDonald 
county. In 1870 to 1874 the object of this sketch 
' spent in California, but with this exception has 
lived in this county. On the 17th day of Feb- 
ruary, 1876 he was married to Miss Sarah J. 
Kenney. They have nine children living. He 
served as Justice of the Peace in Pinevile 
township six years, and in 1892 was a candidate 
for the office of Collector, being defeated by 80 
votes. In 1894 the Republicans again nominated 
him and he was elected by a plurality of 126. 
Mr. Prater has always borne a reputation as a 
competent business man, and strictly honest in 
his transactions. He is a member of the Meth- 
odist churcli. One of the grandest things that 
he will ever have to think of is that for many 
years while poor himself, and burdened with a 
large family, he took care of his old father and 
mother without ever a thought or hope of reward. 
He has a good farm on Indian creek near Lanagan 
where he has been living the past four years. 

J. H. QuALLS. The objectof this sketch was 
born in Madison county, Askansas, March 11, 
1860. His jjarents moved to Christian county 
Mo. , during the war, then back to Arkansas. 
Went to Colorado in 1876 and came to McDonald 
county in 1879, since which time Mr. Quails has 



242 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

been a permanent resident. June 20, 1886 he 
and Miss N. C. Lewis, of this county, were 
united in marriage. They have three children; 
Rosa E. eight years of age, Bertie M. five years, 
Samuel B. one year old. He and his wife united 
with the Missionary Baptist church about seven 
years ago. He is now" publishing the Tiff City 
News, a nice, clean paper that is a credit to 
both Mr. Quails and the community in which it 
is located. His first venture in the newspaper 
business w^as at Anderson, in 1893, when the 
Messenger was established. Since that time 
he has been connected with two other papers. 
He is a member of the Populist party, and 
during the campaign of 1894 was chairman of 
the county central committee of that party. 

G. M. D. Seabourn, son of Bradford and 
Catherine (Cam^jbell) Seabourn, was born in 
Bradley county, East Tennessee, June 3, 1845. 
He came with his parents to McDonald county 
in 1858. He was first married in 1862 to Miss 
Missouri Anderson, sister of A. D. Anderson, 
late of this county. By her three children have 
been born. Some years after her death he 
married Miss Sarah Eden by whom he has 
four children living. He w^as never in the 
regular army, but served for a time in the 
state malitia. He was in the fight at Neosho 
with General Shelby by whose men he was 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 243 

captured, and released on parole. The entire 
family were strongly Union and had to leave 
this county in 1862, at which time they went to 
Lawrence county returning in 1866. His father 
served over two j^-ears in the 6th Kansas Cavalry. 
Mr. Seabourn does not belong to any church, 
has never held a public office and is a farmer by 
occupation. He owns a good farm, is in com- 
fortable circumstances, comes of a good family 
and is highly respected by all who know him. 

William K. Wilson, son of Levi and Eliz- 
abeth Wilson, was born in Jackson county, 
Tennessee, November 4, 1841. His youth was 
spent in the land of his birth, and on the 21st 
day of March, 1861 he was united in marriage 
with Miss Lena A. Clark. During the war they 
were compelled to "refugee'' to Kentucky be- 
ing loyal people. Mr. Wilson joined the First 
Tenn. mounted Infantry in 1864 and served 
until the close of the war, being most of the 
time in the mountains of his native state. In 
1868 he and his wife both joined the Christian 
church of which they are still consistent mem- 
bers. In 1871 they moved to Illinois, and in 
1877 to this county. He improved a nice place 
near the Roark school house, and while there 
served as district clerk several years. He is 
now making another comfortable home near 
Coy. They have been blessed with nine children, 



244 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

six of whom are still living, and the entire 
family are respectable, and industrous people. 

T. H. WiMPEY. Almost every body in the 
west part of the county know^s Tom Wimpey, 
the genial miller of Tiif City. He was born in 
McDonald county June 27, 1854, and has spent 
most of his life in the land of his birth. His 
father, Joshua Wimpey, died in 1867. His 
mother, Rachel Wimpey, is still living. In 
1869 the family moved to Arkansas, but returned 
to this county after an absence of three years. 
March 25, 1877, he and Miss Arizona Hutchison 
were united in marriage. They have seven 
children, all living, Sarah L. who is married to 
Lafe Hamilton, A. C, Plaudy, Lula, Mattie, 
Stella and Jessie. He was brought up on a 
farm, but went into the goods business at Twin 
Springs when that town tirst sprung up. He 
went to Coy about 1882 where he dealt in goods 
a while, then went into the Coy mill. While at 
this place he was post master some nine or ten 
years. Last year the mill was moved to Tiif 
City where it is now in operation, Mr. Wimpey 
being the miller and general manager. He is 
a consistent member of the Baptist church. 

C. E. Davis, son of W. R. and E. E. Davis, 
was born in the City of Cincinnati in 1870. When 
he was about seven years of age his parents 
moved to Joplin, this state, w^here they resided 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 245 

some ten years. During their residence in 
Joplin they made several trips back to their 
native place, and came to this county occasion- 
ally. Mr. Davis being in poor health the changes 
were made in hopes of effecting his recovery. 
He died in 1882. Clarence attended the public 
schools at JojDlin where he obtained a good 
business education. With his mother, he came 
to McDonald county about ten years ago and 
settled on a farm near Noel. This he cultivated 
until the town of Noel began to be a place of 
note, when he went there and took charge of 
the City Hotel. He keeps an excellent house, 
and has done a business that is surprising for 
a town no larger than Noel. He, also, has 
a good livery stable and runs the Noel & South- 
west City mail and hack line. In 1890 he was 
married to Miss Neta Parmer, daughter of Dr. 
and Mrs. Farmer, of Pineville. They have twd 
children. 

Edwin Tyler Doty, was born in Cayuga 
county. New York, December 4, 1844. At the 
age of 15 years he moved to the state of Michigan. 
When the war broke out he enlisted in Fourth 
Michigan Infantry and served until his time ex- 
pired. After the war he entered the college at 
Ann Arbor, Michigan and graduated in the 
Medical department in March, 1870. In 1883 he 
came to Southwest Missouri, residing in Mc- 



246 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

Donald county two years, and in Joplin over 
seven years. He then located at Anderson, 
December, 1892, and embarked in the drug 
business in connection with the practice of 
medicine. During Cleveland 's second term Mrs. 
Doty was postmaster at Anderson, and every 
one speaks well of her management of that office. 
The doctor enjoys a good practice, has a good 
trade in the store and he and his lady stand 
high in the estimation of the people. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



247 



.••^•••m,>_. 




A. W. NOEL. 



The gentleman whose name stands at the head 
of this sketch was born in this county April 10, 
1868. He is a son of C. W. and F. M. Noel of 
Elk River township. Being reared on a farm 
he followed that occupation, attending the 
district schools until early manhood when he 
went to Warrensburg school and, also, took a 
term in the Business College at Kansas City. 
Soon after returning from school he secured a 
position as clerk and book keeper for M. N. 
LaMance, where he remained some four years. 
By this time, having saved his earnings, he 
bought a small stock of hardware and went into 



248 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

business on his own account. In May, 1893, he 
took charge of the post office at Pineville, to 
which position he had been ax^pointed by Presi- 
dent Cleveland. He administered the affairs of 
the office four years to the satisfaction of the 
public and with credit to himself and the party 
which he represented. April 18, 1897, he was 
united in matrimony with Miss Grace Yonce, 
one of the most w^orthy and highly esteemed 
young ladies of our community. 

By natural ability, attention to business and 
good management, he has built up one of the 
most lucrative mercantile establishments in 
the county. Mr. Noel is entitled to much credit 
for his success in life, having gained it by his 
own efforts. He is a man of good morals, genteel 
in his manners and a credit to the community. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 249 



A. U. CHASE. 

Dk. a. U. Chase of Tiff City is one of our 
leading physicians who at the age of 30 years, 
has established a practice that often taxes his 
strength to the utmost. He has excellent sue- 
cess with his patients, and his agreable manners, 
and regard for the feelings of others make him 
a general favorite with the people. He is a 
son of John R. and Fannie Chase, of Newton 
county. He was born in Ray county, this state, 
August 10, 1867. When he was two years old 
his parents came to Newton county. He obtained 
a fair education in the common schools, availing 
himself of every opportunity to gain knowledge. 
In 1847 he came to Tiff City and began the 
study of medicine with Dr. A. J. McKinney, 
linishing up his course at Marion Sims College 
of Medicine, St. Louis. He and Miss Mary 
Keenan, a daughter of the late Peter Keenan of 
this county were married, in 1891. They have 
three children. They have an ellegant home 
at Tiff City on a portion of the old Cummings 
farm, where he and his estimable wife are en- 
joying the comforts of life and reaping the 
rewards of a well merited and successful 
career. 



250 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



Mr. and Mrs. Vermillion. 

R. E. Vermillion was born in Lawrence , 
county, Mo., in 1855. His wife, Fannie Mills, was 
born in the same county in 1859. They were 
acquainted while children and, in July 1875, 
when he was twenty and she sixteen years of 
age, were married. Mr. Vermillion soon after- 
ward entered a drug store, and in the spring of 
1878 located at Opolis, Kansas. He was in busi- 
ness there until 1885 at which time he accepted 
a position in the drug store of Caffee & Co., at 
Carthage. A year later he was employed by H. 
Dustin of Southwest City. The same year Mrs. 
Vermillion opened up a Millinery store there. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



251 



^/sys/yV^VV-V,-! 




'T''P^'^ 






T^ 



?sp 



and for ten years this worthy couple were prom- 
inent figures in the business and social circles 
of that enterprising place. He continued as 
general manager of the Dustin drug store until 
Octoljer, 1895, when he again went into business 
of his own. He died January 15, 1896, after a 
couple days illness from pneumonia complicated 
with heart trouble to which he had been subject 
for some years. Mrs. Vermillion is still carrying 
on her millinery business at Southwest City. 
They have but one child, Maud, aged thirteen. 



252 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY, 

HUGH DABBS. 

With some individuals the .Battle of Life 
seems but a series of brilliant victories, and 
such has been the career of our former citizen, 
Hugh Dabbs. While he was born in Madison 
county, Arkansas, he has lived from early child- 
hood in this county. His father died when 
Hugh was four years old, and left his wife, Susan 
Dabbs, with a large family of small children. 
They lived near Rocky Comfort, and Hugh spent 
his boyhood days helping to clear out a farm 
on the flat woods. He was always studious, and 
as soon as he could procure a certificate, began 
teaching school. He saved his money and took 
a course of study in the academy at Corsicana, 
Barry county. In 1890 he graduated from the 
Law department of the State University at 
Columbia, and began the practice that year at 
Pineville. He held the highest grade in his 
class at the University, and wrote the Prize 
Thesis. That fall he was elected prosecuting 
attorney, which office he held four years. He 
rapidly rose to distinction in his profession and 
now, at the age of thirty- two, ranks among the 
leading lawyers of Newton County. He located 
at Neosho in 1895, where he has an elegantly 
furnished office, a fine library, and is doing a 
large practice. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 253 



H. B. BOSSERMAN. 



H. B. BossERMAN, son of Jacob and Eve 
(Hanger) Bosserman, was born in Augusta 
county, Virginia, January 5, 1841. His parents 
lived and died in that state. When the war came 
np, Mr. Bosserman lived wliere the active scenes 
of the great conflict was going on. He enlisted 
in 25th Virginia Infantry and served two months 
v^hen he was taken prisoner at the battle of 
Rich Mountain. He was paroled by Gen. Mc- 
Clelland, and exchanged that fail. Those were 
times w^hen much of the supplies for the people 
were made at home, and the looms and spinning 
wheels w^ere brought into use. Mr. Bosserman 
was a very fine mechanic, and the time of his ex- 
change was sick for some time. As soon as his 
health would permit, he started to join his reg- 
iment. But he was w^ell acquainted with the 
leading men of his part of the state who knew 
his skill as a w^orkman, and they vouched for 
his good conduct and loyalty to the Confederacy 
and he was permitted to remain at home the 
rest of the war, making spinning, wheels, looms, 



254 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

and other necessary articles. In 1869 he and 
Miss Lucretia M. Ladwick were united in wed- 
lock. They have one child dead, and two living; 
Eugenia (Hargrove) and Emmett Guy. He left 
Virginia in 1872, went to Texas, then to Illinois, 
and came to McDonald county in 1889. He owns 
a fine mill near Pineville with which he is doing 
a good business. 



HISTORY OP MCDONALD COUNTY. 255 

T. J. CARNELL. 

J. L. Carnell, for several years an honored 
citizen of this county was born in Virginia March 
13, 1833. His wife, Mrs. E. J. Carnell, w^as 
born in Kentucky November 23, 1835. They 
were married in Cass county, Missouri from 
which place they moved to Texas then went to 
Benton county, Arkansas and from that place 
to McDonald county. They had ten children, 
nine of whom are still living. Among them is 
the object of this sketch. 

T. J. Carnell was born in Benton county, 

Arkansas, June 4, 1872, and is consequently 25 

years of age. He came with his parents to this 

countv in 1889. He attended the district schools 

in Arkansas, and the public school at Pineville 

after they came to this county where he acquired 

a fair business education. On January 16, 1895 

he and Miss Florence M. Clemons were united 

in marriage. There union has been blessed 
with one child, Hazle B. now aged two years. 
Mr. Carnell was reared on a farm which occu- 
pation he followed until a couple of years ago, 
since which time he has been running a saw mill. 
Being a man of energy and industry he is making 
a success of his business, and is manufacturing 
and selling a large amount of lumber. Politically 
he is a Democrat, having been brought up in 
that faith, but his adherence to the party would 
never induce him to forget a personal favor or 
one who had befriended him. 



:256 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY 




ETUE, Peter D,— Born in 
Perth county, Ontario, June 
-9, 1846. Educated in the com- 
mon schools until 14 vears of 
a^e, when he entered the office 
of the Mitchell Advcx^ate to 

learn the art of printing. At the age of 16 ran 
away from home and went to Buffalo, N. Y. w^here 
he enlisted in the 14th X. Y. Cavalry, serving 
until April 24, 1866. After a few months at 
home in Canada, returned to the U. S. and be- 
came a citizen at Flint, Michigan in 1868. Re- 
moved to St. Louis in 1869, working on the old 
St. Louis Republican, and various job x^rinting 
offices until 1871, when he became connected 
with the Kansas City Times. Established the 
Kansas City Live-Stock Indicator in 1878, and 
sold out in 1893. The panic of that year resulted 

disastrouslvfor him and he lost the accumula- 
tion of years. After a residence of over a quarter 
of a century in K. C. he came to Anderson in 
September 1896, purchasing the x\nderson 
Messenger, which he renamed the Advocate, 
and he runs as an independent (not neutral) 
local journal. In politics he has always affiliated 
with the Democrats, and was elected member 
of the Common Council in Kansas City 1878-79 
as such. He is an anti- protectionist and a free 
silver man, also a believer in the Single Tax 
doctrine. 



HISTORY OP MCDOyfAL.I> COUSTY, 



237 




^^'J^ 







y 




J. L. ELLIFF. 

Mr. Elliff was bom in Lawrence county 
this state, May 26, 1855. His parents came to 
McDonald county in 1866, and Jessee has made 
this his home ever since. He improved every 
opportunity to attend school and was granted 
a certificate and taught his first term in 187-t. 
Mr. Elliff has twice been principal of the South- 
west City public schools and is a prominent 
teacher of the county. He is Sunday School 
Superintendent and clerk of the Baptist church 



258 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

at Anderson and is a member of the I. O. O. F. 
In 1890 he was appointed clerk at Quapaw Agen- 
cy and served 15 months after Cleveland's 
inauguration. He filled his position with honor 
to himself and with credit to his county and 
administration. He stands high with the de- 
partment and is well versed in Indian affairs. 
Is an untiring republican worker and in 1894 
was a delegate to the county, congressional and 
State conventions and a member of the Con- 
gressional committee. Mr. Elliff is the owner 
of a good residence in Anderson and is a substan- 
tial citizen of the county. He is now keeping 
a hotel at Anderson and is doing a thriving 
business as real estate agent. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 259 



JAMES H, WIMPEY. 

Among the men who figured prominently in 
the affairs of the county for several years is 
James H. Wimpey of Anderson, son of Joshua 
and Nancy (Ragsdale) Wimpey. He was born 
June 3, 1837, in Hamilton county, Tenn. When 
he was about three years old his parents moved 
to niinois, and in 1844 settled in what is now 
McDonald county, where the object of this sketch 
was reared. He took advantage of the meager 
facilities for schools, and by close application se- 
cured a fair education which he has since great- 
ly improved by an extensive course of reading. 
He and Miss Mary Kinslow were united in 
marriage in December, 1859. To them have been 
born four children, two of whom died in infancy. 
Their son, Joshua L. Wimpey is now a Justice 
of the Peace, elected in 1894, and a respected 
citizen of this county. The daughter Tennie B. 
is the wife of Ed Rudisill, a merchant at Ander- 
son, this county. Being an uncompromising 
Union man, Mr. Wimpey was compelled to leave 
this county in the early part of the war, conse- 
quently he enlisted, August 2, 1862, in the 6th 
Kansas Cavalry, and served to the close of the 
war. He participated in several engagements 



260 HISTORY OP MCDONALD COUNTY. 

among which were those at Newtonia, Prairie 
Grove and Honey Springs. At the election No- 
vember, 1866, he was elected assessor of this 
county, which office he filled two years. In 1868 
he was elected Sheriff and Collector, which he 
also held two years. In 1871 he was appointed 
by Gov. Brown to fill a vacancy in the county 
court. He has since been nominated for various 
county offices on the Republican ticket but his 
party having been greatly in the minority, he 
has each time been defeated. He was a 
staunch Republican until 1894, since which time 
he has been a Populist with strong leanings to- 
wards Socialism. In religion he is an Agnostic; 
by occupation a farmer. Being a man of strong 
convictions and out spoken in defending what 
he believes to be right, he made some enemies 
while in public life but his dealings, whether as 
an official or in private life, have always been 
honorable, and his whole life on the side of 
morality, intelligence and progression. 



HISTORY OF MCDONAT.D COUNTY. 



261 




JOHN B. CHRISTENSEN. 



John Benjamin Chkistensen, was born in 
Malta Bend, Saline County, Missouri, April 2, 
1876. In 1877 his parents moved near Odessa, 
Missouri where they lived until 1887, when they 
went to Kansas City which place was John's 
home until he and his wife came to McDonald 
County to take up their residence. He received 
his education in the public schools. From the 
Westport High School entering the Law De- 
partment of the Missouri State University in 
September, 1898, he graduated from that In- 
stitution in June, 1895, at the age of nineteen and 



262 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

as valedictorian of a class in which he was the 
youngest student. Besides having attained the 
highest stand ard of proficiency during the whole 
course, he had the distinction of writing a prise 
thesis on a legal subject submitted by the Law 
Faculty, the Judge of merit being the Chief 
Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court. He was 
admitted to the bar before the Supreme Court, 
June 7, 1895, since which time he has devoted 
himself to the practice. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 263 



J. A. JACKSON. 

John Alonzo Jackson, oldest son of Samuel 
H. and Mary J. Jackson, was born in Neosho, 
Missouri, March 16, 1870. He received a good 
education in the common schools of Neosho, 
where he spent his childhood and youth. He 
and Miss Esther Page of Neosho, were married 
December 4, 1892. They have one child, Mar- 
guiritte, born at Neosho, Nov. 21, 1893. From 
July, 1889, to May 1892, he was deputy circuit 
clerk of Newton county. Is a member of the 
First Congregational church of Neosho. Has 
never held an ofi&ce. 

Mr. Jackson has always taken an active part 
in politics, having been secretary of the Newton 
county executive committee, president of the 
Republican club of Neosho and chairman of the 
Republican executive committee of that city. 
He stumped Newton county in behalf of the 
Republican party in 1892, 1894 and 1896. He 
was admitted to the bar in May 1892 and prac- 
ticed at Neosho until February, 1897, when he 
located at Pineville. Here he is building up a 
good reputation and with it a good legal business, 
having poven himself a lawyer of tine abilities. 



264 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



L. W. CARLYLE. 

The object of this sketch was born in Dela- 
ware county, Indiana, October 16, 1850. He 
remained in that state, attending the district 
schools during his boyhood, until 1870, at which 
time he came to McDonald county. December 
28, 1876, he was united in marriage with Miss 
Callie C. Stevenson of this county. They have 
seven children, Flora E., Franklin, John, Vern- 
on, Howard, Lemuel and Lois. 

He has been collector of Southwest City three 
years, street commissioner five years and city 
marshal five years, all of which speak of his 
moral worth and standing among the people. 
He is a member of the M. E. Church, south, an 
Odd Fellow and Mason. In politics, he is a 
Republican, and is counted as one of the leading 
men of that party. He has never sought or 
held an office outside of his city, though his 
name has been mentioned on one or two occasions 
as a candidate on the county ticket. Should 
he ever come before the people they can rest 
assured that an honest and competent man will 
be asking their favors. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 265 



DAN HARMON. 

Dan Harmon, son of Mark and Elizabeth 
Harmon, was born in Green county, Tenn. July 
22, 1833. His parents came to McDonald county 
in 1847, and from that time until the present 
the Harmons have been among the leading 
people of this county. Dan remained with his 
parents five years after their arrival here, during 
which time he went to school three months, 
Moses Pollard being the teacher. In 1852 he 
went to California to seek his fortune in the 
gold diggings. He drove an ox team and was 
six months and one day on the road. It is 
useless to remark that Mr. Harmon did not die 
on the road, but he passed through the desert 
where for miles the trail was lined with the 
carcasses of dead cattle and horses and the 
bones of many human beings were bleaching in 
the sun where they had perished from heat and 
thirst. He remained west of the Rocky mount- 
ains thirteen years, returning in 1865. On his 
return he brought with him $5,500, and spent 
$1,000 on his way home. 

In December, 1866, he and Miss Nancy J. 
Walker, daughter of Hon. Claudius B. Walker 



266 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

of this county, were married. They have had 
eight children, five of whom are living, Mr„ 
Harmon was public administrator a few years 
after the war. He has served as Justice of the 
Peace and post master. For some years he 
was in the mercantile business at Erie, where 
he enjoyed a good trade until burnt out. He 
owns a fine farm on Indian creek where he lives 
in good, comfortable style, and where he and 
Mrs. Harmon dispense hospitality to their nu- 
merous friends in a truly royal manner. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



267 



JUDGE I. N. SHAMBAUGH. 

For nearly twenty years the man whose name 
stands at the head of this page was an honored 
and prominent member of our community. 
Judge Shambaugh was born in Warren county, 
Virginia, September 29, 1823. In 1841 he moved 
to DeKalb county Missouri, where he remained 
until the war came up. He was a self educated 
man, having studied during his leisure time at 
home. He studied law in DeKalb county and 
began his career there as a practitioner. In 
1858 he was elected a member to the State 
Legislature, and re-elected in 1860, being a 
member when the question of Secession came 
up. He met with the General Assembly at 
Neosho and opposed that measure, but after- 
wards espoused the cause. 

During the Mexican war the Governor of this 
state issued him a commission as Lieutenant 
Colonel, but the war closed before he reached 
the scene of conflict. About the close of the 
war he went to Nebraska City, Neb., where he 
practiced law seven years. While in active 
practice he had remarkable success and won a 
brilliant reputation. The close confinement 
and hard study together with the severe climate 
were more than he could bear, and his health 



268 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

gave way. For this reason he came to McDonald 
county in 1873, and purchased a large farm on 
Elk River where it crosses the state line. Here 
he was engaged in farming and dealing in stock 
until his death. As in every other venture 
w^hich he ever undertook, he made a success of 
this and was counted one of the wealthiest men 
in the county. The management of our county 
officers had been quite improvident and in some 
instances there were strong indications of fraud. 
The county was in debt some 1^80,000 and county 
warrants worth but 25 cents on the dollar. 
Judge Shambaugh promised the people that if 
they would elect him presiding Judge he would 
get the county out of debt. Accordingly in 1876 
he was elected to that office, also Probate Judge, 
and re-elected in 1880. He inaugurated a system 
of rigid economy and before half of his second 
term was out had paid the entire debt and raised 
the warrants to par. Having accomplished the 
object for which he was elected, he handed in 
his resignation. His public life and sterling 
w^orth as a private citizen gave him a high place 
in the estimation of our people, and he could 
have held any office within their gift, but he 
preferred the peace and quite of his farm life. 
He was married in 1850 and they had three chil- 
dren all of w^hom are living in this county. He 
died in November, 1892. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



269 




J. W. SHIELDS. 



Among the enterprisiiig men of this county 
is J. W. Shields, the genteel cashier of the 
McDonald County bank. He was born in this 
county, Nov. 14, 1856. He is the son of George 
R. Shields formerly of Tenn. , who came to this 
Co. in 1846. He secured a good education in 
the schools at Southwest City, near which his 
father resides. He taught school two years, 
two terms being in Southwest City. He estab- 
lished a mercantile business at Saratoga in 1880. 
He was at that place seven years, four of which 



270 . HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

he was post master. He then moved his business 
to Southwest City, where he was also post 
master until Benjamin Harrison appointed his 
successor. He remained at that place until he 
took charge of the Circuit Clerk and Recorders 
office to which he was elected in 1890. He filled 
the office with great credit and was a candidate 
for re-election, but went under with the Repub- 
lican wave that swept this county in 1894. He 
at once established the bank which he has made 
a great success. His extensive improvements 
have given employment to a number of men. 
His residence is one of the finest and best 
arranged in the county. He and Miss Lulie 
Riggs of Saratoga were married Oct. 14, 1880. 
They have four children living. Mr. and Mrs. 
Shields are members of the Baptist church, and 
he is a great Sunday school worker, and has 
been clerk of the Shoal Creek Association for 
the last five years. He owns a fine set of ab- 
stract books and does an extensive Abstract 
and Real Estate business. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 271 



REV. T. A. COFFELT. 

Rev. Theodore A. Coffelt, M. D., is the 

fifth son of Rev. Wyatt Coffelt, who now 

lives in Bentonville, Ark., aged 85 years. Dr. 

Coffelt was born on Buffalo, McDonald county 

Missouri April 10, 1855. He was reared and 

educated in Benton county Ark. where his father 

moved to when he was quite young. He studied 

medicine and attended the Medical Department 

of the Vanderbilt University at Nashville Tenn. 

in 1883-84. He began the practice of medicine 

in Benton county Ark. in April 1884. In Oct. 

1885 he was married to Miss Mary C. Clayton, 

daughter of Rev. J. M. Clayton, a member of 

the Arkansas Conference. Dr. Coffelt graduated 

at the Missouri Medical College, St. Louis Mo. 

March 2nd, 1886. He continued practice in 

Arkansas until January 1892 when he moved to 

St. Louis. Here he took a Post graduate 

course in diseases of the eye and was appointed 

as an assistant in the Eye Clinic under Dr. Chas. 

E. Michel in the Polyclinic and Post Graduate 

School of Medicine. In April 1893 he was 

licensed to preach as a local minister in the 

M. E. Church South, and in June 1893 moved 



272 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

to Carthage Mo. where he practiced as a Spe- 
cialist in eye and ear diseases until Sept. 1895 
when he was admitted on trial into South West 
Mo. Conference held at Webb City Mo. by Bishop 
Duncan and was appointed to the Pineville 
Circuit. While at Carthage he was appointed 
by the Pension Dept. as special examiner for 
southwest Missouri in eye and ear diseases. 
He has served this Charge for two years and 
has been successful in building up the church; 
has secured 95 into the church, built three good 
church houses and a beautiful and substantial 
parsonage during these two years of labor for 
the church. He has been very successful as a 
physician and enjoys considerable reputation 
as an Oculist. As a preacher he is able and 
earnest, and a great honor to the calling. He 
has three children two boys and one girl. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 273 



J. W. SMITH. 

Among the prominent and self made young 
men of our county is John W. Smith, our county 
school commissioner. He is the son of George 
W. and Elizabeth Smith, and was born in this 
county September 24, 1866. His parents moved 
to Granby about 1874 and remained there three 
years when they returned to this county. John 
was educated in the district schools, attended 
a few months at Pleasant Hope and finished 
his last school days asastudentatWarrensburg 
Missouri. He has been teaching school for 
several years and is one of our most accomplished 
scholars. In the spring of 1895 he was elected 
county school commissioner, and re-elected in 
1897. He is filling the office with credit to 
himself and satisfication to the people. He is 
a member of the Christian church and of the 
Masonic order. 

Mr. Smith has had many disadvantages to 
overcome, but has triumphed over all and is an 
example of w^hat perseverence, energy and 
close application will do for a young man. 



274 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



F. A. SEARS. 

F, A. Sears was born in McHenry county, 
Illinois, March 12, 1858. He is a son of Charley 
and Jane Sears. His parents moved to Iowa 
in 1861, and five years later came to Jasper 
county Missouri. Mr. Sears has lived in Mis- 
souri and Kansas ever since. He obtained a 
fair education at the district schools, and when 
quite a young man began worl^ in a mill. He 
learned the trade at Lowell, Kansas, and for 
nearly twenty years has followed that business. 
In May, 1881, he and Miss Mary Ann Scholes 
of Cherokee county, Kansas, were united in 
marriage. They have four children, two boys 
and two girls. Ten years ago he came to this 
county and most of the time has had charge of 
the McNatt Mills. He is now in the mercantile 
business with Woolard & Co. at that place, but 
has leased the Galbraith Mills atLanagan where 
he now lives. Mr. Sears stands well with the 
people wherever he is known, and his reputation 
for fair dealing is universal all over Southwest 
Missouri. His business has been such for the 
past few years that it w^as much more difficult 
for him to fill all of his orders than to find sale 
for his products. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 275 



GEORGE R. CLAY, 



Among the young men who have risen to dis- 
tinction in this county is George R. Clay. He 
was born at Aurora, Illinois, July 23, 1870, and 
came with his parents, M. W. and Nancy L. 
Clay, to Newton county Missouri in 1880. He 
attended the country school near his home a 
few years then went to school at Port Scott, 
Kansas and Kansas City, Mo., until he received 
a good education. He then entered the law 
office of Col. Cloud at Pierce City where he read 
law until admitted to the bar at Neosho in 1892. 
During the Cherokee payment in 1894 he was 
in the Indian Territory buying Cherokee war- 
rants for the Grand Forks, South Dakota Na- 
tional Bank. In January, 1895, he located at 
Pineville to practice his profession, and from 
the first made a phenomenal success. Though 
young and inexperienced in the practice, he 
won nearly all his cases and the first year 
made more money than any other lawyer ever 
made in this county in the same time. In 1896 
he was nominated by the Democratic party for 



276 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

• 

Prosecuting Attorney, and endorsed by the 
Populist. In the election which followed he 
received a majority over his opponent of 556 
votes. Since taking charge of the office he has 
proven a vigorous prosecutor and is administer- 
ing his office with credit to the party which elect- 
ed him. Mr. Clay is a man of brilliant intel- 
lect and will evidently rise to distinction in 
his profession. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 277 



ANDREW J. McKINNEY. 



For many years, one of the most prominent 
men in the west part of our county, is Dr. A. 
J. McKinney, of Tiff City. He was born in 
Bradley county, Tennessee, May 19, 1853. With 
his parents, Adaniram and Sarah McKinney, 
he moved to Madison county, Missouri, in 1860. 
His father, who was a soldier in the Southern 
army, died in 1862. His mother now lives at 
Tiff City. He received a good education in the 
public schools of his place, and afterwards 
graduated from the Missouri Medical College 
at St. Louis, in 1882. Having studied medicine 
before entering college, .he located at Marquand, 
in this state where he practiced two years. 
After graduating, he returned to that place and 
remained two years more. In 1884 he located 
at Tiff City, where he soon acquired an extensive 
and lucrative practice. Being studious and 
very attentive to his patients, and having a 
natural talent for his profession, he met with 
uncommon success. He also established a 
small drug store, which he has gradually in- 



278 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

creased until now he has a large stock of 
drugs and medicines and also a hardware. 

On the 5, day of October, 1881 he was united 
in marriage with Miss Mary E. Griffin, of Pred- 
ericktown, Missouri. Shedied January 20, 1884, 
leaving two children, Ollie and William H. The 
Dr. was again married June 2, 1886, to Miss 
Nellie Chase, a daughter of John R. Chase, now 
of Seneca. He has always been a Democrat, is 
a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the Baptist 
church. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 279 



DAN HUCKINS. 



Mr. Huckins was born August 3, 1849, in 
Iriquois county, Illinois. His youth was spent 
near Kankakee and Chicago. He obtained a 
common school education in the district schools 
and at Elgin, Illinois. In 1867 he was married 
to Miss Anna Porter. To them was born a boy, 
James, who is still living. Mrs. Huckins died 
several years ago. In 1869 he went to White 
Cloud, Kansas, and for five years traveled over 
that state as a photographer. He afterwards 
located at Craig, Missouri, on the Kansas City, 
Omaha & Council Bluffs rail road, where he car- 
ried on a wagon shop. At this place he held 
the office of city clerk, assessor and collector. 
In 1879 his establishment was destroyed by the 
flood. He made a boat in which he rowed out to 
his shop, secured what tools he could find and 
then floated dow^n the river to Kansas City. 
From there he came to Seneca, where he re- 
maihed two years. In 1881 he located at Tiff 
City where for the last sixteen years he has 
kept a wagon shop, been notary public, justice 



280 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

of the peace, post master and local attorney. 
Although the office is one of considerable im- 
portance, he has held it under both Dem. and Rep. 
administrations, which speaks well for him as a 
public man. Some years after coming to this 
county he was united in marriage with Mrs. 
Nancy J. Foster, by whom he has three child- 
ren. He united with the M. E. church, south, 
in 1887. Is an Odd Fellow, Good Templar, and 
belongs to the Sons of Temperance, of wiiich 
order he has been State Deputy He is also a 
member of the A. O. U. W., Select Knights and 
Woodmen of the World. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 281 

JUDGE W. E. SMITH. 

William E. Smith was born in Lincoln 
county Kentucky in September 1844, and is a 
son of John C. Smith of Neosho Missouri. Wm. 
E. Smith received an education in the common 
schools of Clay and Marion counties 111., his 
family having settled in the former county in 
1849, and in the latter in 1854. He came to 
Missouri in 1867, and located in Newton county 
where for one year he was engaged in farming, 
thence in 1868 he removed to Jasper county 
where he remained engaged in farming and 
mining until 1872, when he returned to Newton 
county, and continued farming and stock raising 
until 1879. He then engaged in the Mercantile 
business at Thurman that county of which place 
he was appointed post master on April 16, 1880, 
continuing in office and business until January 
1882, when he removed to Indian Springs Mc- 
Donald county Mo. There he engaged in 
merchandise and real estate business, and was 
elected chairman of the town council. In the 
fall of 1882 was elected justice of the peace 
which office he resigned in Dec. 1884, to take 
charge of the Probate judge's office to which 
he had been elected the preceding Nov. to fill 
the vacancy caused by the resignation of judge 
I. N. Shambaugh. In Nov. 1886 he was re-elected 



282 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

and in Nov. 1890 he again was • re-elected his 
own successor. In Nov. 1894 he was the Nom- 
inee of his party for the same office, but was 
defeated by the heroic efforts of his enemies 
and combination of two parties, and on the 
first day of Jan. 1895 he turned the Probate 
office over after ten years service. In 1893 he 
purchased the Pineville News and at once 
changed the name of the paper to the Pineville 
Democrat which he published until Jan. 1896, 
when he sold his interest, since which time he 

has been engaged in the Hotel and Real Estate 
business and was commissioned Notary Public 
by Gov. Stone on Dec. 17, 1894. He was married 
to Harriett A. Smith a daughter of Wm. C. 
Smith on May 11, 1865 and to them was born 
seven children: those living are Jerusha E. A., 
Richard R , Lodosca L. and Edward C. Mrs. 
Smith died on June 5, 1879, and on February 
22, 1883, Mr. Smith married Mrs. Virginia 
T. Tweedy. Mr. Smith still resides in Pineville 
and takes a very active part in the politics of 
the day. He is a member of the Congressional 
and Senatorial Democratic committies, of which 
party he is a loyal and able member. He has 
been a member of our school board much of the 
time since his residence here, and takes an 
active part in all public improvements. He is 
also an Odd Fellow in which order he is serving 
his second term as Noble Grand. His ten years 
experience in the Probate office has given him 
a thorough knowledge of that business and he 
is doing the most extensive Probate practice of 
any lawyer in the county. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 283 



H. C. PEPPER. 

Henry C. Pepper was born in Hart county, 
Kentucky, August 13, 1851. He grew up on a 
farm in the state of his birth, where he learned the 
habits of industry which he still follows closely. 
He attended Normal school three years at 
Canmer, Ky., also attended Classical and Mili- 
tary College at Danville, Ky., and Neophogen 
College, Gallatin, Tennessee. He studied law 
at Cumberland University, Lebanon Tennessee, 
w4iere he graduated in 1879, receiving the degree 
of L. L. B. 

Having thus made a thorough preparation for 
entering the battle of life, he started out on 
that all important struggle. Being without 
means, he began by teaching school which he 
followed for some time. After coming west he 
was in Kansas a short time, then in the North 
part of this state. He located at Pineville in 
1882 or 1883, since which time he has confined 
himself exclusively to the law practice. Being 
a strong Democrat and good worker in the 
ranks of the party, he soon came into prominence. 
In 1886 he was nominated on that ticket and 
elected prosecuting attorney. At the end of 
his first term he was again elected. From the 



284 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

time of taking charge of that office he rapidly 
rose in the estimation of our people as a man 
and as a lawyer, and at the close of his second 
term ranked among the leading lawyers of this 
judical circuit. In 1891 he went to Cassville 
where he is now living. He was soon recognized 
as the head of the bar in Barry county, and 
his business extends to all the counties of this 
judicial circuit, and considerable in other count- 
ies, besides an extensive practice in the St. 
Louis Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. 
He is always pronounced in upholding right 
and denouncing wrong, and his influence in our 
county was such that the entire moral standard 
was raised. In other words, while public pros- 
ecutor he sought the influence of and set to work 
the better element in each community. 

He was married to Miss Adrenna Wilson of 
Pineville, October 5, 1890. They have two chil- 
dren, Henry W. and Lura D. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 285 

HON. JOHN C. LAMSON. 

Judge Lamson was born in Jefferson county 
New York, Nov. 29, 1827. His father, Peter 
Lamson, was a native of Vermont, but moved 
to New York when a child. Wlien the subject 
of this sketcli was a small child his parents re- 
moved to Madison county, Ohio, where they re- 
sided three years, then went to LaGrange county 
Indiana. There John C. Lamson was reared on 
a farm, securing his education at Oberlin Col- 
lege, from which institution he graduated in 18- 
57. He then entered the law department of the 
University of New York, at Albany, graduating 
in 1859. During the fall of 1860 he traveled 
through Texas with a view to locating, but po- 
litical excitement and animosities prevented. 
He afterwards traveled through the Central and 
Western states, and was at Sunrise, Minn., 
when Fort Sumpter was fired on. Immediately 
returning to Indiana, he enlisted, April 19, 1861, 
in the Federal army, but was not received in 
the three months' call. He, however, remain- 
ed at Indianapolis, and as soDn as the call was 
made for 75,000 three-year men he enlisted as a 
private in Company B, Seventeenth. Indiana 
Infantry. This regiment served on foot until 
the early part of 1863, after which they served 



286 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

as mounted infantry until the close of the war. 
Mr. Lamson was promoted to the position of 
first lieutenant in the winter of 1861-62, and 
was discharged as captain. He participated in 
the battles of Greenbriar, West Virginia, Shiloh, 
Stone River, Hoover's Gap, Chickamauga, 
McMinnville, Farmington, and w^as almost con- 
tinuously in the field at the front. Mr. Lamson 
came to Pineville in the winter of 1865, locating 
permanently in the spring of 1866, since which 
time he was actively engaged in practicing his 
profession, until he took charge of his present 
office, January 1, 1893. On November 13, 1872, 
he was united in marriage with Lois A. Santley 
a daughter of Joseph Santley, of Wellington, 
Ohio. She was born on the Western Reserve, 
Ohio, in Loraine County. In politics he is a 
Republican, and in religion is a member of the 
Congregational Church of Neosho, Mo. In 1870 
Mr. Lamson was elected to represent McDonald 
County in the State Legislature, and has served 
as prosecuting attorney for one or two terms. 
In November, 1892, he was elected Judge of this 
Judicial Circuit, which position he still holds. 
As a judge he has gained a reputation for honesty, 
fairness and judicial ability, and has the friend- 
ship of all the legal fraternity. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 287 



M. N. LaMANCE. 

Marcus N. Lamance was born at Saratoga, 
McDonald county, Missouri, October 16, 1844. 
He has always lived in this county, and most of 
his life has been a citizen of Pineville. His 
father, J. P. LaMance, was a merchant at this 
place for many years, and served as county 
treasurer one or two terms, Marcus spent his 
early days in farming and clerking in a 
store. During the first years of the war he re- 
mained at home, and was present when the 
court house was burnt. . At one time he came 
near being lynched by some Kansas troops, but 
w^as saved by the entreaties of his mother. 
After this he enlisted in the Confederate army 
and served two years. 

' In 1878 he began the mercantile business 
here, which he has followed for nearly twenty 
years. He has made a success, and now occu- 
pies a handsome two story brick, which is filled 
with a well selected stock of goods. He is now 
county treasurer, which office he has held one 
or two previous terms. He was appointed post 
master in 1879 and held the position until after 
the installment of Harrison in 1889. He is a 
Mason and a member of the Chapter. 



288 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

MRS. LORA S. LaMANCE 

LoRA S. Nichols was born in Wolcottville, 
Indiana, April 2, 1857. Her father, Nelson Nich- 
ols was a native of New York, and her moth- 
er, Keziah (Waltman), of Pennsylvania. Lora 
received a liberal education in the States of 
Minnesota and Ohio, but was compelled to quit 
school before graduating- on account of ill health. 
She came to Southwest Missouri in 1878. April 
14, 1880, she and M. N. LaMance of Pineville 
were united in marriage. They have one child 
Lora, who is now attending college at Neosho. 
They have an elegant home, and for many years 
the beautiful plants and flowers have been an 
object of attraction to all our people. 

Mrs. LaMance early developed talent as an 
authoress, but did not begin writing for the press 
until 1888. Her natural taste for flowers, and 
the "beautiful in life" inspired her pen and her 
literary productions soon gained notoriety. 
Besides fugitive pieces she has written three 
horticultural books "House Plants," "Beautiful 
Home Surroundings," and "Insects." Twenty 
thousand copies of one of these books were sold 
in a year's time. She was offered the editorship 
of two floral journals, one of which is the leading 
journal of the world. As Mr. LaMance 's health 



HISTORY O:? MJD3NALD C3LTNTY. 289 

was too delicate to make a change to a severer 
climate, she rejected the offer. She has a letter 
from the literary editor of the Kansas City Star 
commending* in very high terms an article of 
hers he chanced to read in an exchange. 

She is a constant temperance worker, having 
taken the lead in that work in this county for 
several years past. Much of her work has been 
done through the W. C. T. U. , of which she is 
county president, and her efforts have produced 
a decided change in iDublic opinion on that 
question. She is in favor of Woman's Suffrage, 
and is a member of the Congregational church. 



<y7N^ 



290 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

Dr. J. E. EDELEN. 

Johnson E. Edelen, son of Joseph B. and 
Agnes O. Edelen, was born in Washington City, 
D. C, November 15, 1848. He attended school 
at Georgetown college and afterwards gradua- 
ted at the Cecilian College, Hardin county, Ken- 
tucky. He read medicine in his father's office 
some four years after whicli he graduated in 
the medical department of the University at 
Louisville, Kentucky, at which place his father 
had located after the war. 

In 1871 the doctor went to Fort Smith, Ar- 
kansas, where he remained about a year. He 
then went back to Louisville and remained un- 
til after his father's death, and then located a 
few years at Bardstown, Ky. He then went to 
Colorado on account of his health, and remain- 
ed about four years. He came to Pineville in 
1886, since which time he has been practicing 
medicine and operating a drug store. He was 
married July 20, 1871 to Miss Mattie B. Carroll, 
of Arkansas, a grand niece of Charles Carroll 
of Carrollton, who signed the Declaration of 

Independence. His mother was a niece of the 
distinguished Rev. Abercrombie of Philadelphia. 
They have two children living Joseph and Katie. 
He has twice been electedcoroner of this county 
by a large majority over a popular opponent 
and tilled the office with great credit. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 291 



HON. W. C. PRICE. 



William C. Price was born in Jackson county 
Tennessee, March 11, 1821. His father, Camp- 
bell Price, was a native of South Carolina, who 
removed his family to Benton, then Washington 
County, Ark., in 1829. Thence he removed to 
Bowers Mill, in what is now Lawrence County 
Mo., late in 1833. The next year he went to 
Newton County, coming to McDonald County 
in 1835. He entered government land and 
settled on Bolfalo creek where the subject of 
this sketch now resides. It was here that he 
reared his family and pcissed the remainder of 
his days. Hon. William C. Price grew to man- 
hood at the home of his parents, assisting in 
the work of the farm. He can remember when 
wild animals were very plentiful in the region 
of his home, and Indians often hunted up and 
down the valleys. On February 1, 1844, Mr. 
Price w^as united in marriage with Clarinda, a 
daughter of James F. Beeman, and to them 
were born twelve children. Politically he is 
a Democrat, and his party has favored him with 
several important offices. For four years he 
served as sheriff of the county, and represented 
the same in the State Legislature from 1873 to 



292 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

1877. For six years he served as superintendent 
of the United States Flouring Mills in the 
Seneca Nation, Indian Territory. During the 
Civil War he sympathized with the South and 
served in the Confederate army as a member of 
Captain Parks' Company H, Second Cherokee 
Regiment, with which he participated in the 
battles of Fort Gibson and Armstrong Ford. 
He was one of the leaders of his party for many 
years and served as chairman of the county com- 
mittee several terms. He is now living out his 
old days in peace and plenty at the old home 
where he grew to manhood. 



c^ 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 293 



A. T ABLER. 

Asa Tabler was born in McDonough county, 
Illinois in 1849. He was a son of Thomas H. 
and Louisa Tabler. He grew up to manhood 
near the place of his birth but, like so many 
other young men concluded to ''go west and 
grow up with the country." Asa doesn't say 
whether he had been reading Horace Greely, 
or just took his advice from his own personal 
inclination and ideas. Be this as it may became 
west and the first point he struck was Fort 
Smith, Arkansas. He remained there but a 
short time, then went to Payettville, Arkansas, 
where he remained about a year. He then went 
to Linn county this state where he remained 
some eight or nine years. After this his 
thoughts wandered back to Arkansaw, and he 
went back to that state. This time he stopped 
at Bentonville w^here he remained a short time, 
but failed to find a suitable investment for his 
means. After looking around for some time he 
located at Southwest City, about 1886, where 
for the last eleven years he has been one of the 
leading business men of that place. His occu- 
pation most of the time has been keeping Hotel 
and Livery stable. His estimable wife is pro- 



294 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

ficient in the former business and they are both 
of such a friendly disposition that every one is 
made to feel welcome and fed on the best that 
can be found in the market. 

His livery is one of the best in this county 
and he has the name of taking the best of care 
of horses put up at his stable. You need never 
look to see that they are properly fed and 
watered. He has lately completed a handsome 
building on Main street which they expect to 
occupy when their present lease expires. In 
1879 he and Miss Mattie Sharp of Bentonville, 
Ark., were married; they have no children. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 295 

JOSEPH W. KELLY. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Kos- 
ciusko county, Indiana, three miles South of the 
city of Warsaw. Like nearly all country boys 
he had to depend on the district school for an 
education, going to such school during the 
winter months only. He lived and worked on 
the farm until June, 1862, when he went into 
the United States army, being a member of 
Co. "K" 74th. Regiment Indiana Volunteer 
Infantry. He served with his company to the 
close of the war, participating in the battles of 
Green River, Mumfordsville, Kentucky, Hoovers 
Gap, Tenn, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and 
the battles and skirmishes of the Great Atlanta 
campaign, and marched with Sherman to the 
sea. After the war he went to Iowa, then to 
the far northwest where he participated in 
several skirmishes with others fighting hostile 
Indians. After several years in the mountains 
and on the plains he returned to Indiana, re- 
maining there for a few years, then back Iowa, 
and then to McDonald county, Missouri, in 
April, 1893. With J. H. Quails he established 
the Anderson Messenger in June, 1893, and m 
November, 1893, disposed of his interest to Mr. 
Quails; on December 1st of the same year assu- 
med charge of the Pineville Democrat for W. 



296 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

E. Smith & Co., who had just purchased the 
office. He remained with Smith & Co., two 
years and then with P. A. Freeze, who had be- 
come interested in the office, until August, 1896, 
when he assumed control of the paper by 
purchase and lease and is still its editor and 
publisher. Under his management the paper 
has steadily increased in circulation and influence 
and is regarded with favor and confidence by its 
party and adherents as well as the people at 
large. He is a free silver Democrat all the time 
and under all circumstances. 

July 2, 1893, he was married to Miss Kate L. 
Neff of Pineville. To this union has been born 
one daughter Miss Viola M. Kelley, a bright 
little Miss of three Summers. Mr. Kelly came 
to McDonald county on account of poor health, 
and the result is that our fine climate and pure 
water made a comparatively well man of him, and 
he now thinks this the county of all commu- 
nities for the poor in health as well as poor in 
purse. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 297 



M. C. FALKENBURY. 




Matthew Clark Falkenbury was born in 
Mercer county, Illinois, on July 19, 1861, and 
was raised in Washington county, that state, 
up to the age of 18 years. He acquired an ed- 
ucation mostly in the common schools and was 
graduated in the Bachelor of Science degree 
at the Central Normal College of Danville, Ind., 
in 1884, and came west in the same year. In 
1888 he founded the Southwest Leader at South- 
west City. He was married to Miss Grace Mc- 
Clain, of Coffeyville, Kan., in 1888. His father, 
Don A. Falkenbury is a native of eastern New 
York who emigrated to Illinois at an early day 
and later to Florida. His mother, Miranda E. 
Miller, was raised at Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Fal- 
kenbury is a man of superior ability and pub- 
lishes a paper of which Southwest City and 
McDonald county should be proud. 



298 HISTORY OP MCDONALD COUNTY. 

REV. M. L. STEWART. 

Marcus L. Stewart, son of Thomas H. and 
Julia M. Stewart, was born in Lawrence county 
Kentucky, September 19, 1862. Two years af- 
terwards his parents moved to Davis county, 
Missouri, and five years later to Montgomery 
county, Kansas. Mr. Stewart attended the dis- 
trict schools during boyhood, where he obtain- 
ed a common school education, and then took a 
short term at Scarrett College, Neosho. Sep- 
tember 21, 1882, he and Miss Segornia Eppard, 
of this county, were united in marriage, which 
union has been blessed with seven children, all 

of whom are living. For several years he was 
engaged in farming, teaching school through 
the winters months. 

Mr. Stewart early identified himself with the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and was ordained 
a minister of that denomination some five years 
ago. He has gained a host of friends wherever 
he has taught or preached, and many of our peo- 
ple, and especially the children, will remember 
him with pleasure. In 1896 he went to Idaho, 
where he had charge of a circuit for some 
months, and then returned to this county to fin- 
ish up his business. He was quite favorably im- 
pressed with the people and location there and 
expects to make his home there. He establish- 
ed and carried to a successful termination the 
Chautauqua at Southwest City this fall, for 
which commendable enterprise he will have the 
lasting x^raise and esteem of her people. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 299 



A. C. WALTERS. 

Albert C. Walters, son of John U. and 
Margaret (Tyler) Walters, was born in Switzer- 
land, September 2, 1844. In 1847 his jDarents 
came to this country, first settling at Camden, 
N. J. The next year they went to the city of 
Philadelphia where they remained about five 
years, then went to Burks county, Pennsylvania. 
Mr. Walters attended school first in Philadel- 
phia and afterwards at the schools near his 
father's home in Burks county He enlisted at 
Reading, Pa., in the fall of 1862, in the 151st 
Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served eleven 
months, and was in the battle of Gettysburg. 

He first came to Polk county, this state, in 
1868. The next year he went back east, but 
soon returned and has been in Southwest Missou- 
ri ever since. He and Miss Mary E. Brown, of 
this county, were married in 1871 ; they have five 
children living and two dead. 

He came to this county in 1882, and bought 
the old mill where Bosserman now is. After re- 
fitting it he sold it, and in June, 1883, bought 
out A, M. Dillin of Pineville. Prom that time 
to September, 1897, he was one of the leading 
merchants of that place. He then sold to Car- 
nell & Duval. He has been engaged in farming, 
milling and merchandise, and is a good carpen- 
ter. He has not united with any church, but is 
strictly moral and his influence is for Christian- 
ity. He has always been a Democrat, but now 
is a Prohibitionist. In 1884 he was elected 
treasurer of this county which position he filled 
with credit, and had the name of keeping a re- 
markably neat set of books which balanced to 
a cent on his final settlement. 



300 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 




P. A. FREEZE. 



FURLON A. 

Freeze, son o f 
Elbert F. S. and 
Eliza J. (Hankins) 
Freeze, was born 
in Barry county. 
Mo., Jan. 29, 1870, 
his parents hav- 
ing- come to this 
state from Tenn. 
He was brought 
up on a farm and 
attended the dis- 
trict schools dur- 
ing the winters. 
He went to the 
Cassville High 
Exeter two years and the 



School four years 

Baptist College at Pierce City one year 

In 1888 he began teaching and has followed 
that work since, except while attending school, 
which he alternated with teaching as he could 
secure funds to pay expenses. In 1892 he took 
a trip through Kansas, Colorado and Texas 
looking for a more favorable location, but re- 
turned to Southwest Missouri after an absence 
of ten months. In 1896 he edited the Pineville 
Democrat for eight months, but sold his interest 
in the paper and took charge of a school. He 
was elected constable of Pineville township on 
the Democratic ticket in 1896. The 20th day of 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 301 

February, 1896, he and Miss Effie Farmer, one 
of Pineville's most intelligent and popular young 
ladies, were married. Both are members of the 
Baptist church. After remaining in this county 
from 1894 to the spring of 1897, he returned to 
Barry county where he owns a nice farm and is 
also following his profession of teacher. 



302 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



,r <S'-.%I*^- ., 



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MRS. P. A. T. YOCUM. 

Phoebe Ann Trembee Yocum, Daughter of 
Hiram and Sarah Tremble, was born at Mat- 
toon, Cole county, Illinois, December 5, 1846. 
There she remained during her childhood and 
youth, and was educated in the McFarland Sem- 
inary, Mattoon, which she attended three years. 
She discovered considerable ability as a writer 
during her school days, and began writing for 
the papers when but twelve years of age. Dur- 
ing the war she corresponded for the local pa- 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 503 

pers, and since coming west for many years was 
reporter for the St. Louis Daily papers. She 
w^as married in Cole county, Illinois, June 2, 18- 
66, to William M. Yocum also of that county. 
They have iiad six children, five of whom are 
living". 

After her marriage Mrs. Yocum discontinued 
her literary work for a number of years, taking 
it up again about 1880. She contributed arti- 
cles to the Journal of Agriculture, St. Louis, 
for seven years, at the same time writing for 
several magazines. Most of her productions 
have been short stories, but some three years 
a;go she was called on to write a continued sto- 
ry, and her effort in that line met with such fa- 
vor that she now has a number which have been 
accepted by the publishers. She is preparing 
to pat some of her writings on the market in 
book form, and has assurances of success. 

Mrs. Yocum has lived in McDonald county 
about fifteen years. She is a leading temper- 
ance worker, occupies a prominent place in the 
W. C. T. U , and holds a life membership in the 
Christian Endeavor, of which she is very proud. 
She and her husband are both members of the 
Cumberland Presbyterian church. 



304 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

J. A. FOSTER. 

The subject of this sketch was born on Pea 
Ridge, Benton county, Arkansas, September 24, 
1854. He grew to manhood in the county of his 
birth, and received a liberal education at the 
Pea Ridge Academy, then known as Mount Ver- 
non Academy. In 187B he came to this county 
where he has resided most of the time since. 

Mr. Foster began teaching in 1873, his first 
school being at Poplar Hill on Big Sugar creek. 
He followed teaching for fifteen years, and was 
regarded as one of our best instructors. A few 
years he was engaged in farming, then about 
the year 1893 he went to Cyclone and put up a 
small store where he remained about five years. 
In the fall of '97 he removed to Jane wdiere he 
and T. J. Carnell have a good stock of general 
merchandise. 

In 1882 he and Miss Katie Potts of McDonald 
county were married. They have four children 
all of whom are living. Politically he has al- 
ways been a staunch Republican. He is a mem- 
ber of the Modern Woodmen, in which order he 
carries a life insurance for the benefit of his 
family. He takes much interest in the affairs 
of his community, and it was through his exer- 
tions and influence that Cyclone township was 
established. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 305 



.-•« 




'iS^'W-:&'^^ 



HON. JOHN F. TANDY. 

J. F. Tandy, son of J. P. and Elizabeth (Par- 
nell) Tandy, was born in Carroll county, Ken- 
tucky, March 21, 1838. That was also the birth 
place of his parents. He came with his father 
to Lewis county, Missouri, in 1850, and has liv- 
ed in this state ever since. When he was a boy 
school facilities, as well as lights, were meager, 
and his education was acquired by three month's 
attendance of the district school, and the bal- 
ance at home by the light of hickory bark fires. 
He was married to Miss M. H. Townsend of 
Knox county, August 20, 1860. She bore him 
six children, five of whom are living, then died, 



306 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

November4, 1891. July23, 1893, heandMrs. Su- 
san M, Moore of Osceola, St. Clair county, were 
married which union was blessed with one little 
girl. 

Mr. Tandy began his official career in Febru- 
ary, 1878, when he was appointed by Governor 
Phelps, as Presiding Judge of the county court 
of St. Clair county to fill a vacancy. That fall 
he was elected to that office, thus serving three 
years. In 1886 he was again elected to that of- 
fice which he held the ensuing four years Those 
were stormy times in St. Clair county on ac- 
count of the attempt to enforce the collection of 
rail road bonds that had been issued several 

years before but no road ever built. Judge 
Tandy believing the bonds were fraudulent, re- 
fused to levy a tax for their collection, for which 
he w^as incarcerated in the Federal jail at Jef- 
ferson City for seven months, beginning No- 
v^ember 1887. He endured the imprisonment 
but never made the levy. 

He came to McDonald county in Sept., 1893 
and owns a good farm on Patterson creek. In 
1894 he was nominated by the Populist for rep- 
resentative, and ran 100 votes ahead of his tick- 
et. In 1896 he was nominated by both Demo- 
crats and Populists, and elected by a majority 
of 621. He is a man of fine appearance, an elo- 
quent speaker and his services in the state leg- 
islature have been credible to himself, and for 
what he considered the best interest of his con- 
stituents. He is a minister in the Christian 
church to which he devotes much of his time. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



307 




C. E. DUVAL. 



Claib E. Duval, son of Dr. W. C, Duval of 
Pineville, was boru at Rutledge, the old county 
seat, December 25, 1858, and has lived here the 
greater part of his life. He secured a good ed- 
ucation in the public schools at Pineville. In 
1872 he went into a printing office and learned 
the trade, and has been in the newspaper busi- 
ness nearly all the time since. One of his first 
ventures was the Saratoga Eagle, which he 
published while that town was in its prime. He 



308 HISTORY OP MCDONALD COUNTY. 

also set up the forms for the first paper that 
was printed in Southwest City. 

He was publisher of the Pineville News for 
many years, and which he made one of the best 
papers in the county. He sold that paper in 
the fall of 1893, but after trying a couple of 
other locations, returned in a few months and 
started the Herald, which he still publishes. 

In September, 1897, he entered into a copart- 
nership with P. L. Carnell, and bought the mer- 
cantile establishment and good will of A. C. 
Walters, and they are now one of the leading 
firms of the county seat. 

He and Miss Mary J. Hamilton, who was born 
and raised in Indiana, were married at Eldorado 
Springs, Arkansas, February 23, 1882. They 
have four children — two girls and two boys — 
Clarice, Claude, Bessie and Vincil — aged re- 
spectively 14, 11, 9 and 6 years. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



309 



Mr. and Mrs. S. D. PRESTON. 

Dr. Solomon D. Preston was born Octo- 
ber 10, 1853, in Logan county, Kentucky, where 
his childhood and youth were spent. He was 
educated at the Vanderbilt University where he 
studied medicine, but was taken down with ty- 
phoid fever when he lacked just one term of 
graduating. In 1880 he left his native state and 
went to Kansas, and two years later came to 
this county. He practiced medicine for a few 
years, but much of his time he operated a drug 
store a^9 which business he was very proficient. 
Mr. Preston was raised a Republican, but for 
many years affiliated with the Democratic party. 
In 1892 he again identified himself with the Re- 
publican party, and warmly supported its prin- 
ciples to the time of his death. He has been 
engaged in the newspaper work at various 
times in this county, and his papers were al- 
ways noted for the ability and parity of the read- 
ing matter. In the spring of 1897 he was taken 
down with typhoid fever, from which he died on 
the 5th day of May. He had a host of friends 
wherever known, and was the idol of his fami- 
ly to whom he had ever been a kind husband 
and father. He was a member of the Baptist 



310 HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 

church, the I, O. O. F., the A. O. U. W. and 
Woodmen of the World. In each of the last 
two orders he carried a life insurance of $1^,000, 
also $2,000 in the Bay State Insurance Compa- 
ny of Mass. 

Mrs. Fannie Preston, widow of the late 
S. D. Preston, w^as born on Pea Ridge, Arkan- 
sas, March 26, 1866. She is a daughter of Dr. 
W. C. Duval of Pineville, by his former wife, 
Mary Jane (Boyer). She was brought up from 
a little child in Pineville, Vv^here she attended the 
public schools, and early in life united with the 
M. E. Church, south. September 5, 1883, she 
and Dr. Preston were united in marriage. They 
have lived at Pineville, Indian Springs and 
Southwest City in this county, and some eight- 
een months in the Cherokee Nation. To them 
were born seven children, six of whom — Edith, 
Susie, Joel Claiborn, Ruby, Lena, Cecil Rollo — 
are living. Leo, the youngest child, died June 
3, 1897, from the same malady that had taken 
off his father but a few weeks before. 

Mrs. Preston now lives in a comfortable home 
in Southwest City with ample means which the 
foresight and benevolence of her kind compan- 
ion provided. Their engraving appears on the 
next page. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



311 




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">- iriH*inT 



312 HISTORY OP MCDONALD COUNTY. 

J. A. DOTY. 

Joseph A. Doty was born in McDonough county, 
Illinois, January 10, 1864. His parents moved to 
Johnson county, Missouri, when he was two years 
old, but owing to the unsettled condition and law- 
lessness that existed there after the close of the 
war, the Doty family moved to Clark county, Iowa. 
Here young Doty worked on his father's farm and 
attended school, having to walk a mile and a half 
to reach the school house. In 1877 his parents re- 
moved to Osborne county, Kansas, where Joseph 
grew to manhood, and in the year of 1883 was wed- 
ed to Miss Laura A. Beck. 

In the fall of 1887 he landed in Southwest City, 
Missouri, a stranger in a strange land. He soon 
made acquaintences and friends and determined 
to cast his lot with the people of McDonald county 
and make Southwest City a permanent home. 
Just after the election in the fall of 1888 Mr. Doty 
conceived the idea of establishing a Republican 
paper in the county and set about to secure a plant. 
The latter part of December, 1888, a small printing 
outfit was purchased, and on January 10, 1889, the 
first issue of the Enterprise was printed. This was 
the first Republican paper published in the county 
and, as the party was unorganized, it was predict- 
ed by many that the paper would soon suspend as 
it would not be able to secure the proper support 
to make it a success. It certainly did look like a 
rash venture, right in Democry's stronghold, but 
under the guiding hand of Mr. Doty the Enterprise 
continued to grow, and to day is one of the leading 
papers in Southwest Missouri. The success of the 
paper is due to his able management. He has ev- 
er been a faithful exponent of Republican princi- 
ples, at the same time avoiding offensive matter, 
so that persons of all parties took pleasure in read- 
ing his paper. 

Mr. Doty has twice been elected Mayor of South- 
west City, and holds that position at the present 
time. In 1894 he was prominently mentioned for 
State Senator from the 15th district of Missouri. 



xn 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 313 



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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



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^ 


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CO 


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CO 


CM 




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CD 


CO 


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00 


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CO 


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CO 


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lO 


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T-l 


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lO 


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• 


pi 


lo 


CD 


00 


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^ 


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O 


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00 


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CO 


CO 


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CD 




^ 


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00 


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tH 














f^ 


• 


CO 


CM 


^ 


co 


JO 


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CD 


CM 


CM 


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lO 


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CD 




iO 


CO 


00 




iO 


lO 


fe 






























• 


p:i 


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00 


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c^ 


CM 




CM 


lO 


'^ 


t^ 




CD 


CM 


▼-( 


tH 


lO 


Ci 


iO 




lO 


CM 


CO 


CO 




00 




























rH 


ft 


CM 


r-H 


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o 


CO 


CM 


CO 


CVl 


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lO 


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CO 


iO 


CO 


CD 


CO 


CO 


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CD 


t- 


c 


CO 




• 


pi 


CO 


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00 


CO 


CD 






CO 


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CM 






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CD 




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00 




























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c- 


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GO 


CTi 


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pi 




CO 






lO 








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t- 




01 






lO 








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CO 




CO 












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CM 




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O 

H 
P 



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p:! 















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o 
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o 

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322 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



C/3 



C/3 

C 

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CO ^ 

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1^^ 




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00 -rH 


.o 


• 


00 


p5 


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tH CO 
CO CO 


c 


1— H 


• 


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X "^ 


n 


1 1 


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05 


^ 


Tt* CO 


o 


M 


00 


• 


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<;j 


in 




Q 


00 CO 


T3 


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• 

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• 

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00 00 


nal 


o 


00 


00 -rt^ 

t- CD 
OS C' 


o 














00 

88 


P4 


OS 00 


^ 




tH 


• 

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CO CO 

00 c- 


<>-« 




• 


• 




o 




CO 

00 
00 


• 


CO 00 
CO \o 


O) 






ft 


00 CO 



;*0000(M'H£2OSt:-iOt'<M^:5' 
QD^COTjtcOCOcOOS "^OoOt- 

th -^ cm 

trCMOS^CMCOCMt'LO-^Olos:^ 
^-MOOcoOCOCOCOOO-^t-OlGC 



COOSiOQOCOOt-CO^ 

'^OSOt-OOt-COrt^CO 
t-OiOOO-rt^fMCMos*^ 



(MOOOOSCOiOlr-O'^ 
COOSrHt- "tHCOiOCO 



C00^0505"^)lO'^0 
COCOCOOt^-^OO^ 



COCO(M"p-lCOCOCO^fH 
■^OSOli-HrHOOSTtt^ 



■«HO5C0-^00O5O5C0t- 
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o 

CO 



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CVI-<Htr-OSCOODOiC)"=C) 
^THTt^(M10C0O0St- 



(M'^'^-^-rtiOlCOt^iC 
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



323 



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CO ^ 








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00 


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Oi t- 






















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t- 


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CO 


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CM 


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CO 


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CO 


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CO 
CO 


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co 


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CO 


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o 
Pi 



o 



Pi 



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Pi 



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<tJeqQQWWpq^^pnfiipHt> 



324 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



c/5 



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c 
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CO 

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p^ 



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CO 



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OCiQO^-^C5COCO'!fGOCO'?wtr- 
COOGOfo'^OCClCOOO'<-Ht^^GO 



'^(M ^C0«O(Mtr-COGO(M!^0 

tH tH rH cq 

t^^ C0GS5i00S)Oi-0O)O<20 

^CO OOoiOOO^CMOoO^ 



^iX) iOo-^l^- C<\ Oi if. '^ 

m QOt-lOcOC2(MCOoJS 

CO iOcMCOO^fO-rHo^ 



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GO ^ 

t' CO 

Oi t- 



00 t2 






X CO 



COcOCM'^COCOCO-Tj^r:' 



riloiooTHOOOiOicofr 

OSCOQOOOiOCO^O^ 



:^<:ocoO-<-iOOiOcO^ 






(M-rHT-t^H-rtHC^COt-^ 

(MrfHOCOO'^t'^^ 
Tt^OCOGO-^O-^Ot- 



o 

CO 



o 






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Pi 






w 



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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



325 



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o 



o 



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00 
00 

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p^ 



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CO 

CO 


CO 


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CO 


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CO 

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CO 
CO 




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05 
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CO lO 



O CO 



^g 



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COt--lOt-Tti0000cO<M 
COOOOX t'COcO^ 

COO5C^Tt<00"^^00<?0 
•^"^XOi^CO'^P-OO 

'^-1 —J v^ m^ 



coq5^-f<c^coOLo20 

■rHCOlOC-THt-^CN^CO 

^JJcocooococococdO 

C^T-iCMt-COfOiOi^ 



C^t-COiOOQOQOt-OO 

^t-0000"<H-?t<-HTjHCO 

cot-cocooi^ioooo 

"^OO's^iOCOOSOCOCO 



^XOOiO CvICMcOCO 

O^COcOlOOiOCOiO 
"^C^-rHiOCOOSC^lO^ 



rl iO CO o 
c^ -^ o ^ 



O CO O <M 

'^ O CM -^ 



;3J'^'^(MCOOCO-!tQO 
COt-(M^Tt^t-00t-CM 



O CO 



^ tH 00 

CO io CO 



O "^ T« "tH 
tH 05 CM -^-t 



CO ^ Oi CM )0 
CO -^ CO CO CO 



o 

C^3 



CO 



o 

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o 

a: 

w 
p 



o 




w 


ORN 


J 


p^ 


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o 


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fe 


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p 


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p 






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326 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



C/3 



C/3 

© 



o 



o 



o 
o 



^ " ft 

o 
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o 









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Q 






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C300co.^OilO'H05'*(M»£?iO^ 
•^OiOcDOiTDOO'THOOOOiTHOO 



00 tr- 
io t- 



C^ CO 
CO zo 



00 t- 



COOiOcCOOCOSOOQO 
CO — J c'^ _1 r— CO r— lO 



CO 



1,1^ ■^^•' ..^^ ^^w- 

t- CO t- »o 

CM 



o 

CO 




o 


00 






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00 


l-O 









-*Tt<COt-Tt<Ol-J"^"* 
CO-^lOoi-^lHOCMoilO 



l0OC0c-(MO2B'^S5 

t'CocoTHir:ico;^oGO 



05C0C0OC0(M^C0Q0 
COOO<Moi"rHCi22<^'^ 

OiGOiO-rHCOCi^OCO 
OlCOt-rtiiO^^CMCO 



^■rHOiTH-rH>rHC-(:OC^ 
■^ tH t^ ■^ 

COt'CO-<!t<^COCM-f4^ 
TfrHGO-'^iOCO^^OiC^ 



OSOiOiOifMOi^-^CO 
<MOOOt:--^t'"^COCO 



oiocooo-^c-S^-^co 

I00t-Oi0 0t-;000 



o 

CO 



O 



Pi 






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^ o w w 
W ;h J _; 









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Pi 



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M 




O 


Q 


O 


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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



327 



m 



t/3 
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o 



u 



o 

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GO . 




2q 




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GO _• 
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c- 




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fe 


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t- 




GO 




^fi 




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00 




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ft 




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X 




tH 




ft 



CO 00 
to CO 



O 00 



O-j CO 



^ 00 
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Tf 



CO ^ 

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(M 



"^^XcOiOCOCO^O 



OCOCOcviTHCMOCMas 
''^t-COcMlOlOO^t- 

•^H tH .rH tH OCI -^ 



o 


CO 


CO 






CO 

CO 


CO 


LO 
CO 


CO 


CO 
05 


CM 

CO 


CM 
CM 


CO 
CO 


CO 


CO 


CO 


CO 
lO 


iO 


CO 
CM 


CM 


X 


\0 

CO 


CO 
CO 




o 

CO 


o 


CO 


CM 


CO 


X 


CO 


lO 
lO 


lO 



iO 




o 


X 


CM 


o 


o 


G5 


CO 
CO 




CO 


CO 
CM 






lO 


05 
CO 


o 


iO 



tH Tj< CO 

iO CO iO 



CO 

CO 



CO O X C<1 Oi 

CO X t' io -!* 



CO 
lO 



CO 
CO 



CO 
CO 



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o 

Q 

12; 



o 

1-1 
< 

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Pi 

!2; 



w 
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b O 



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Q W M 



15 ^ 



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o 



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^pqOQWPqH^^PHDHpHt> 



328 



HISTORY OP MCDONALD COUNTY. 



C/3 



t/3 

C 

o 



O 



n 
o 

Q 



o 
o 



CO 
00 



^ 



^ 



o 



00 



00 



COOOfH^COOSt-COlOCMCDOlCO 

SrlOSCO'^OOxOCD'^OSOiOOO 
CO-^OOcdOCOCM^OO-^OOOJOC) 



00 
00 


^ 


00 




tH 


• 




Q 


CO 

on 


^ 


00 




»— 1 


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00 t- 

iO CO 



^T" CO 
00 CO 



00 o 
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CO tr- 
io lO 



00 C 



OOOC-COCM-^COO 
COiHCSOS CMCOt-lO 

■^ •^ CM 

CMt-oacooooooscooo 

O-rHiOOO^IM-^OSiO 



COOOC- 'HiOIOCO 



tr-(MCO-^Tj^^rJ^OOO 



"^OXCM-^COCOCOOO 
^OO-^CMfHOt-TfCO 



lOCOt-O^OOrf^CMCO 
OiCOOO-TfCO-^COOCO 



•^Ot'Oi-^OfMlOCO 



lOOCOIOOSOfMOO 
Tf-rHC'TflO^lOOOO 



O 00 

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XTlHCOCO-^iOCOCMC- 

t-OC^QOCOOSlOCOO 

tH ^-H «— ( T— I 03 ^H ^— I 



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g J g ;?; ^ o ^ 
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l-H 



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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



329 



C^ 



C/3 

O 



a 
a 
o 



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u 



o 

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00 



p^ 



00 
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oo 

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00 
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^ 

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o 

CO 




CO 


o 


CO 
CO 


CO 


o 

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co 


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t- CO 

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■^a5t--^'^coiocO'^ 

OOOOSGCCOOiOiOOl 
CM "(H tH cm cm "tH tH 



COt'lOiOOSQOO^CO 
CMt'COCO'^IOOOCOTf 

CMOSiOlOCOt-'^C-O 
CO"^OOOCOC5^00iO 



^COOCMOiOTH-rf^CO 
COt^Ot- Tt^-rHCOCO 



'Tt^CMCOOSt't-OOOiCO 
COOCOiOCOO-^lOTfi 



cot'THio coooooco 



GOOSiO^CMCMCO^l— I 
CMCO-^iOCOOCMiOiO 



lOOOCOCOCMIOO-rH 

lO'^t'COrt^-rHt^OSCO 



00 














ft 


00 


CM 


CO 


tr- 


io 
CM 


CO CO CO CO c- 
CO X O lO 'i^ 


1872. 
D. R. 




X 
CM 






05 
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CO 
CM 


33 
102 44 



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880 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



t/3 



o 



o 



o 



o 
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-^"^OicoOcoO^GOCMOOiMQO 



■^lO^OOOOiCOiO-^ 



OOOCMfOO-'HOiOGO 
t'Oi^OO^^COOi^ 



OCO-^OlCOt-t-GOOi 
^THCMOO-^-^CiCD'^ 

ooo<iooit-ooiir:)0 

CO-^HlOO'^'^CvlCsOO 



GO-^<^05050i^GOQO 

"^GOC^t^'^'^OQOCvl 
OOOiO^^-^COOO^ 



TJH CO t' O t- -TjH lO 



Tt<G0TtHO5'?tHTH(MG0^ 

C0X-^"^lO^O00t- 



OLOO-^t-GO-^QO-^ 

^OCMrH-iHOO-'H'^iO 

•»-i tH tH Cvl 

COOSlOt^Tt^-rHOOOOCD 



o 


g 


CM 

CD 


o 


GO 


CD 


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00 


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fa 
fa 





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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 333 



EXPLANATION. 

In the foregoing tables the vote is marked Dem- 
ocratic and Republican, only, as those two were 
the leading parties in this county. Those desig- 
nated in the Republican column include all oppo- 
nents of the regular Democratic nominees, and 
were sometimes Green Back, Union Labor, Inde- 
pendent Democrats or Populists. The Greenback 
party, when at its hight, polled about 300 votes. 
It was followed by the Union Labor party, which 
in turn gave way to the Populist. Some years they 
nominated a county ticket, while in other cam- 
paigns they supported nominees on the other tick- 
ets as they chose. Their strength reached about 
330 votes. The Republicans some years put out 
part of a ticket, and openly, or tacitly endorsed 
other candidates who opposed the Democrats. 

By comparing the following list of nominees with 
the tables, the vote of each one by townships may 
be ascertained. The successful candidate is first 
mentioned, and the politics designated. 



334 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



LIST OF NOMINEES. 
Representative. 



1872 
W. C. Price, D 
R. W. Williams, R 

1874 

W. C. Price, D 
John Harmon, R 

1876 

J. J. Brown, I 
W. C. Price, D 

1878 

A. W. Chenoweth, D 
W. E. Bookout, R 

1880 

A. J. Phillips, D 
Dan Harmon, R 

1882 

T. F. Ford, D 

G. R. McMahan, G. 

1884 

Thos. Collins, D 
Dan Harmon, R 

CIR. and CO. CLERK. 

1874 1878 

A. M. Dillin, D A. M. Dillin, D 

J. S. Wilson, R. J. S. Wilson, R 

CIR. CLERK. 

1882 1890 

H. A. F. Cloud, D J. W. Shields, D 

J. J. Brown, I H. A. F. Cloud, I 

1886 1894 



1886 
J. J. McNatt, U L 
J. H. Wood, D 

1888 

M. C. Christian, D 
S. G. Sutter R 

1890 

J. F. Kenney, D 
L. W. Smith, R 

1892 

R. J. Balch, D 

J. C. Seabourn, R 

1894 

F. M. Best, R 
W. M. Phillips, D 

1896 

J. F. Tandy, D 
F. M. Best, R. 



H. A. F. Cloud, D 
C. W. Gable, R 



S. G. Sutter, R 
J. W. Shields, D 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



335 



CO. CLERK. 



1882 

M. R. DeGrofi, D 
R. L. Hargrove, R 

1886 

J. P. Caldwell, I 
M. R. DeGroff, D 



1890 



J. P. Caldwell, I 
J. ^. Davis, D 

1894 

Zach Baker, R 
W. W. Bacon, D 



1872 

J. H. Wimpey, R 
C. P. Bullock, D 

1874 

W. S. Street, D 
John Wilson, D 

1878 

I. N. Shambaugh, D 
J. W. Legg, R 

1882 

I. N. Shambaugh, D 



PROBATE JUDGE. 

1884 



W. E. Smith, D 
J. L. Ellifi, R 

1886 

W. E. Smith, D 
R. C. Farmer, I 

1890 

W. E. Smith, D 
G. W. Coombes, R 

1894 

J, M. Elliott, P 
W. E. Smith, D 



PRESIDING JUDGE. 
Same as Probate Judge to 1884. 



1884 

H. B. Landers, D 
J. H. Wimpey, R 

1886 

J. A. Sturges, D. 
J. H. Wimpey, R 

JUDGE, E. D. 

G. R. McMahan, G 
H. J. Laughlin, D 



1878 



1890 

J. M. Boyd, D 
J. H. Wimpey, R 

1894 

J. T. Horner, R 
J. R. Patterson, D. 

JUDGE, W. D. 



J. D. Heron, D 
A. C. Hosier, R 



336 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



1880 



G. R. McMahan, G 
M. D. L. McCall, R 



Holly Hinton, D 
R. W. Williams, R 



Holly Hinton, D 



H. J. Laughlin, D 
H. G. Fox, R 



H. J. Laughlin, D 
John Lawson, R 



J. R. Patterson, D 
H. G. Fox, R 

C. J. Marrs, D 

D. McDonald, D 



W. J. Adkins, R 
M. L. Marrs, D 



W. Newman, D 
J. W. Adkins, R 

SHERIFF 

1872 

C. L. Fields, D 
J. H. Moffett, R 

1874 

C. L. Fields, D 
U. W. Noel, I 



J. D. Heron, D 
C. L. Moore, R 

A. B. Shields, I 
J. D. Heron, D 

J. D. Heron, D 
A. B. Shields, I 

J. W. Nutting, D 
A. D. Anderson, R 

J. W. Nutting, D 
J. H. Wimpey, R 

J. W. Cunningham, D 
Alf Oyler, R 

J. W. Cunningham, D 
R. Vermillion, R 

Patrus Testerman, R 
J.H. Young, D 

Geo. Mitchell, D 
Patrus Testerman, R 

& COLLECTOR. 

1882 

J. C. Seabourn, R 
J. F. Kenney, D 

1884 

J. C. Seabourn, R 
J. A. Ford, D 



1882 



1884 



1886 



1888 



1890 



1892 



1894 



1896 



HISTORY OF MCDONAI^B COUNTY. 



337 



1876 

J. C. Montgomery, D 
J. H. Moffett, R 

1878 

E. M. Jarrett, G 
M. R. DeGroff, D 

1880 

E. M. Jarrett, G 
J. F. Kenney, D 

SHERIFF. 



Geo. Woolard, D 
Wm. Slinkard, R 

J. C. Kelley, R 
D. A. Johnson, D 

R. Jarrett, B 
A. Elston, R 



1892 



1894 



1896 



1886 

J. A. Ford. D 
E. M. Jarrett, G 

1888 

J. A. Ford, D 
J. H. Moffett, R 

1890 

W. W. Bacon, D 
J. Benedict, R 

COLLECTOR. 



J. T. Williams, D 
H. C. Prater, R 

H. C. Prater, R 
J. T. Williams, D 



J. W. Hubbard, D 
H. C. Prater, R 



PROSECUTING ATTORNEY. 

1886 



1872 

Jas. L, Smythe, L R 
J. B. Ruff, D 

1874 

J. L. Barr, D 
J. C. Lamson, R 

1876 

Z. T. Murphy, D 
G. W. Randolph, R 

1878 

J. C. Lamson, R 
J. A. Wilson, D 



H. C. Pepper, D 
J. L. Barr, I 

1888 

H. C. Pepper, D 
J. C. Lamson, R 

1890 

Hugh Dabbs, D 
J. L. Barr, I 

1892 

Hugh Dabbs, D 



338 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



1880 

J. W. Brunk, D 
J. C. Lamson, R 

1882 

J. C. Cole, D 
J. C. Lamson, R 

1884 

J. C. Cole, D 
J. C. Lamson, R 



1894 

J. D. Edge, R 
A. V. Manning, D 

1896 

Geo. R. Clay, D 
J. A. Sturges, R 



TREASURER. 



1872 

J. P. LaMance, D 
J. C. Lamson, R 

1874 

J. C. Baber, D 
J. P. LaMance, D 

1878 

J. C. Baber, D 
John Wilson, D 

1884 

A. C. Walters, D 
E. W. Edwards, R 

1888 

J. C. Baber, D 
D. M. Harmon, R 

In 1876, 1880, 1882 and 1886 J. C. Baber had no 
opponent. 

ASSESSOR. 

1872 1874-6 

J. H. Chapman, T> J. H. Chapman, D 

R. L. Ferguson, R 



1890 

M. N. LaMance, D 
A. C. Walters, I 

1892 

M. N. LaMance, D 
J. H. Mofiett, R 

1694 

J. C. Farmer, R 
Geo. Woolard, D 

1896 

M. N. LaMance, D 
W. A. Walters, R 



3^0 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 




Residence of J. W. Shields, Pineville, Mo. 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 



341 



1878 

J. J. Clanton, D 

A. Adams, R 

1880 

H. A. F. Cloud, D 
J. R. Brown, G 

1882 

J. H. Chapman, T> 

B. F. Northcut, R 

1884 
J. H. Chapman, D 

1886 

Zach Baker, I 

R. W. Patterson, D 



1888 

J. P. Madden, D 
C. B. Berry, R 

1890 

J. P. Madden, D 
Zach Baker, I 

1892 

W. H. Noel, D 
Zach Baker, R 

1894 

W. H. Noel, D 
W. Hankins, R 

1896 

M. L. Marrs, D 
C. H. McGuire, R 



POPULATION OF McDONALD COUNTY. 



1860, 3,957; 1870, 5,189; 

1880, 7,816; 1890, 11,283. 

Estimated by the vote of Nov., 1896, it is now 

between 13, 000 and 14,000. 



342 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 




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344 



HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY. 




LaMance Store Building, Pineville, Mo. 



J. C. GEYER, J. B. MURRAY. 

GEYER & MURRAY, 

Attorneys-at-Law, 

Neosho, - - - - Missouri. 

NEWTON COUNTY ABSTRACTS. 



xJ. W. EGBERT, 

Proprietor 

GLOBE HOTEL. 

Best $1.00 a Day House in City. Close to Public Square. 

Spring Street, : NEOSifO, MO. 

When you. go to Neosho stop at the Globe Hotel. Every 

thing first-class. 



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Tl)e Pii}eville Den)Ocrat. 

$1.00 Per Year. Oldest Paper in McDonald County. 

By JOSEPH W. KELLEY. 

The Democrat is Democratic at all times and under 
all circumstances, and unflinchingly supports the 
nominees of its party against all others. It 
has the largest circulation of any paper in 
the county, therefore it is the best 
advertising medium. Use it. 
It is a dean, readable, local paper and should he foun.. 
every Mc Donald county home . Address, Pineville, Mo. 



The St. Charles Hotel, 

Pineville, - - - _ Mi 



«/>! «»»1 



Mrs. J. E. EDELEN, Proprr 

First-class in its appointments. Tabic sur>- 
the best in the market. Good clear 
quarters for all Pineville hack and mail lines. 






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